Clinical Interventions in Aging (Dec 2023)
Aging Stigma and the Health of US Adults Over 65: What Do We Know?
Abstract
Julie Ober Allen,1,2 Nadine Sikora1 1Department of Health and Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA; 2Research Center for Group Dynamics, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USACorrespondence: Julie Ober Allen, University of Oklahoma, 1401 Asp Ave, Norman, OK, 73019, USA, Tel +1 405 325 4984, Email [email protected]: This narrative review assessed the current state of research on aging stigma and health relevant to US adults ages 65 and older. We adopted a stigma framework to highlight aging stigma as a meaningful social construct and the complex ways in which it may be harmful for health. We identified 29 studies of various types (experimental, intervention, cross-sectional quantitative, longitudinal quantitative, and qualitative) published between 2010 and 2023 that investigated relationships between concepts related to aging stigma and health. Aging stigma was associated with poor short- and long-term health outcomes spanning cognition, psychological wellbeing, physical health, and hospitalizations. The premise that aging stigma is harmful to health was moderately well supported, while evidence that health influenced aging stigma was weak. Collectively, studies provided insight into several mechanisms through which aging stigma may affect the health of older US adults, while also highlighting areas for future research. Potential strategies for addressing aging stigma as a public health hazard were discussed.Keywords: ageism, perceptions of aging, discrimination, prejudice, stereotypes, stereotype threat
