Title: Stereotypes of Aging: Their Effects on the Health of Older Adults
Headings: Stereotypes of Aging: Their Effects on the Health of Older Adults
Journal of Geriatrics
Stereotypes of Aging: Their Effects on the Health of Older Adults
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. How Stereotypes Work to Affect Health
3. Effects of Negative Stereotypes
3.1. Stereotype Activation and Longitudinal Studies
3.1.1. Implicit Priming of Stereotypes of Aging (and Stereotype Embodiment/Internalization)
3.1.2. Explicit Priming of Stereotypes of Aging (and Stereotype Threat)
3.2. Downward Social Comparison (and Resilience Theory)
3.3. Emerging Qualitative Research Findings
4. Effects of Positive Stereotypes
4.1. Implicit Priming of Positive Stereotypes of Aging (and Internalization)
4.2. Explicit Priming of Positive Stereotypes of Aging (and Stereotype Boost)
4.3. Upward Social Comparison and Role Models
5. Limitations of Stereotype Research in Aging Contexts
6. Summary and Conclusion
Conflict of Interests
References
Copyright

Content: 164–171, 2003. View at: Publisher Site | Google Scholar
See in References
]. The terms “older adults,” “older people,” “older individuals,” “old age,” “the elderly,” or “seniors” have been used interchangeably in academic literature, policy, and popular press to refer to people who are aged 55 years or older. Therefore, although we adopt the general term “older adults” in this review, we recognize the extensive heterogeneity among this group of people. Given this diversity, it is important to acknowledge from the outset that older adults are unlikely to respond to stereotypes as a single entity. The purpose of this review is to report findings on the effects of stereotypes of aging on health outcomes related to older adults, such as physical and mental functioning (specifically) and overall well-being and perceived quality of life (more broadly). The health outcome of focus in each study, or group of studies, has been italicized as the literature is discussed below. This review first briefly summarizes how stereotypes work to affect health. Then, the literature is organized in terms of the theory and method underpinning each group of studies, with particular focus on stereotype activation experiments.