Scientists from the University of Queensland have suggested that peer bias against the elderly can undermine the elderly’s self-confidence and lead to deterioration in quality and duration of life. Article published Trends in Cognitive Science.
Scientists have noted that the elderly are regularly subjected to age discrimination, which manifests itself in the form of negative assumptions about their values, mental abilities and old age in the form of jokes. Researchers have found that this increases the risk of intrinsic ageism.
Self-directed ageism can manifest as self-doubt (“I’m too old to learn this new technology” or “I’m too old to make new friends”) and a negative perception of my own aging (“I’m getting older”). at something much worse than before”).
Scientists believe that when ageism is internalized and self-managed, it can lead to shorter life expectancy, worse physical and mental health, slower recovery from disability, and cognitive decline.
“Interventions such as creating more opportunities for positive social interaction between young and old are necessary, above all, to prevent the development of negative attitudes towards aging. The risk of self-directed ageism may be reduced if older people’s attention is drawn to less ageist cues, the authors said.