The Relationship of Anxiety and Beliefs Toward Aging in Ageism

The widespread prevalence of ageism is a pressing issue in today’s society, as it is expected that elderly individuals will make up 20 % of the population of the United States by 2030. The present study sought to empirically examine the origins of ageism from two theoretical perspectives: terror management theory and social development theory. College students (N = 206) were surveyed regarding their experience with older adults, and their anxiety, attitudes, and knowledge about aging and older adults. Results were consistent with terror management theory, as anxiety about aging was significantly correlated with greater levels of ageism in younger adults. Additionally, analyses supported the social development theory of ageism, revealing a significant relationship between subjective history of exposure to older adults and ageist beliefs. Interestingly, subjects’ current exposure to older adults was not correlated with levels of ageism, suggesting that ageist beliefs may be developed and maintained from an earlier age.