TY - JOUR
T1 - Do media portrayals of super-agers reduce or increase ageism toward older adults?
AU - Lytle, Ashley
AU - Monahan, Caitlin
AU - Levy, Sheri R.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Super-agers are older adults with exemplary cognitive and/or physical abilities. However, the impact of media portrayals of super-agers is unknown. This study examined whether exposure to mass media stories about “moderate” super-agers (exemplary cognitive and physical skill levels) versus “extreme” super-agers (most extreme cognitive and physical skill levels) impacts young adults’ ageism. Undergraduate participants exposed to media portrayals of moderate super-agers reported greater agreement with positive age stereotypes toward older adults, whereas participants exposed to extreme super-agers reported lower levels of ageism as compared to control participants. Based on these findings, young adults may perceive super-agers in a positive manner as super-agers highlight positive attributes. Since super-agers are often portrayed as defying negative stereotypes through diligence and a positive outlook (less so through good genes or access to healthcare), exposure to super-agers could have negative effects, which is an important future direction.
AB - Super-agers are older adults with exemplary cognitive and/or physical abilities. However, the impact of media portrayals of super-agers is unknown. This study examined whether exposure to mass media stories about “moderate” super-agers (exemplary cognitive and physical skill levels) versus “extreme” super-agers (most extreme cognitive and physical skill levels) impacts young adults’ ageism. Undergraduate participants exposed to media portrayals of moderate super-agers reported greater agreement with positive age stereotypes toward older adults, whereas participants exposed to extreme super-agers reported lower levels of ageism as compared to control participants. Based on these findings, young adults may perceive super-agers in a positive manner as super-agers highlight positive attributes. Since super-agers are often portrayed as defying negative stereotypes through diligence and a positive outlook (less so through good genes or access to healthcare), exposure to super-agers could have negative effects, which is an important future direction.
KW - Ageism
KW - aging
KW - media
KW - stereotypes
KW - super-agers
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85160946139&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85160946139&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/02701960.2023.2218817
DO - 10.1080/02701960.2023.2218817
M3 - Article
C2 - 37243780
AN - SCOPUS:85160946139
SN - 0270-1960
VL - 45
SP - 566
EP - 570
JO - Gerontology and Geriatrics Education
JF - Gerontology and Geriatrics Education
IS - 4
ER -