Attitudes toward aging, old age, and old people

Abstract

People of all ages hold aging-related attitudes. Even very young children recognize age differences and evidence attitudes that appear to be generation-specific. Since attitudes presumably affect behavior and since long life has recently become the rule rather than the exception, interaction with old persons and personal attitudes toward growing old may well be influenced by one's general aging-related attitudes. The availability, accessibility, adequacy, and acceptability of human services intended for use by old persons are also influenced by the attitudes of younger persons. The aging-related attitudes of decision-makers, services personnel, and tax-payers are particularly important in this regard. Much of the U.S. research literature on aging-related attitudes will be reviewed here. Only the highlights of individual articles will be presented, however. Therefore, this paper might best be regarded as a reference to the literature rather than as a restatement of it.