Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessing age stereotypes in the German population in 1996 and 2011: socio-demographic correlates and shift over time

  • Original Investigation
  • Published:
European Journal of Ageing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study aimed to extend the knowledge regarding dimensionality, socio-demographic correlates and shifts in age stereotypes over the past 15 years using a time-sequential design. In 1996 and 2011, we assessed age stereotypes in two independent samples of the German population aged ≥ 45 years (N = 970 in sample 1, N = 1545 in sample 2). Three scales with six items each were assessed. Two scales cover negative (i.e., rigidity/isolation, burden), and one scale covers positive age stereotypes (wisdom/experience). Dimensionality of the scale, associations with socio-demographic variables and whether the stereotypes have shifted were tested using confirmatory factor analyses, structural equation modeling and analyses of variances. Three dimensions were identified and replicated following an exploratory as well as a confirmatory approach. Age stereotypes did shift between 1996 and 2011 in the dimension burden (i.e., becoming more negative). Our results further underpin the finding that age stereotypes are multifaceted and suggest that dimensions do not change over time. Additionally, our data provide some evidence that societal age stereotypes partly change over time.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arbuckle JL (2009) AMOS TM 18 user´s guide. SPSS Inc, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Baltes PB, Smith J (2003) New frontiers in the future of aging: from successful aging of the young old to the dilemmas of the fourth age. Gerontology 49:123–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beauducel A, Wittmann WW (2005) Simulation study on fit indexes in CFA based on data with slierhtly distorted simple structure. Struct Equ Model 12:41–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berner F (2011) Images of aging in the field of health care for the elderly. Findings and recommendations in the Sixth National Social Report on the Situation of the Elderly. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 54:927–932

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brudermüller D, Birnbacher D (2001) Zukunftsverantwortung und Generationensolidarität [engl. responsibility for the future and solidarity between generations]. K&N-Verlag, Würzburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryant C, Bei B, Gilson K, Komiti A, Jackson H, Judd F (2012) The relationship between attitudes to aging and physical and mental health in older adults. Int Psychogeriatr 10:1674–1683. doi:10.1017/S1041610212000774

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chachamovich E, Fleck M, Laidlaw K, Power M (2008) Impact of major depression and subsyndromal symptoms on quality of life and attitudes toward aging in an international sample of older adults. Gerontologist 48:593–602

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng ST, Heller K (2009) Global aging: challenges for community psychology. Am J Commun Psychol 44:161–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng ST, Fung HH, Chan ACM (2009) Self-perception and psychological well-being: the benefits of foreseeing a worse future. Psychol Aging 24:623–633

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheung GW, Rensvold RB (2002) Evaluating goodness-of-fit indexes for testing measurement invariance. Struct Equ Model 9:233–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coudin G, Alexopoulos T (2010) ‘Help me! I’m old!’ How negative aging stereotypes create dependency among older adults. Aging Ment Health 14:516–523

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis NC, Friedrich D (2010) Age stereotypes in middle-aged through old-old adults. Int J Aging Hum Dev 70:199–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Depp CA, Jeste DV (2006) Definitions and predictors of successful aging: a comprehensive review of larger quantitative studies. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 14:6–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diehl M, Wahl HW, Barrett AE, Brothers AF, Miche M, Montepare JM et al (2014) Awareness of aging: theoretical considerations on an emerging concept. Dev Rev 34:93–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fornell C, Larcker DF (1981) Evaluating Structural Equation Models with Unobservable Variables and Measurement Error. J Mark Res 18:39–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gluth S, Ebner NC, Schmiedek F (2010) Attitudes toward younger and older adults: the German aging semantic differential. Int J Behav Dev 34:147–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gregorich SE (2006) Do self-report instruments allow meaningful comparisons across diverse population groups? Testing measurement invariance using the confirmatory factor analysis framework. Med Care 44:78–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hair J, Black W, Babin B, Anderson R (2010) Multivariate data analysis, 7th edn. Prenctice Hall Inc., Upper Saddle River

    Google Scholar 

  • Horton S, Baker J, Cote J, Deakin JM (2008) Understanding seniors’ perceptions and stereotypes of aging. Educ Gerontol 34:997–1017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu LT, Bentler PM (1998) Fit indices in covariance structure modeling: sensitivity to underparameterized model misspecification. Psychol Methods 3:424–453

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu LT, Bentler PM (1999) Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Struct Equ Model 6:1–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kite ME, Johnson BT (1988) Attitudes toward older and younger adults—a meta-analysis. Psychol Aging 3:233–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kite ME, Stockdale GD, Whitley BE, Johnson T (2005) Attitudes toward younger and older adults: an updated meta-analytic review. J Soc Issues 61:241–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kline RB (2005) Principals and practice of structural equation modeling. Guilford Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Kornadt AE, Rothermund K (2011) Contexts of aging: assessing evaluative age stereotypes in different life domains. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 66:547–556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kruse A, Schmitt E (2006) A multidimensional scale for the measurement of agreement with age stereotypes and the salience of age in social interaction. Ageing Soc 26:393–411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levy B (2009) Stereotype embodiment—a psychosocial approach to aging. Curr Dir Psychol Sci 18:332–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levy BR, Leffheit-Limson E (2009) The stereotype-matching effect: greater influence on functioning when age stereotypes correspond to outcomes. Psychol Aging 24:230–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levy BR, Myers LM (2004) Preventive health behaviors influenced by self-perceptions of aging. Prev Med 39:625–629

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levy BR, Slade MD, Kasl SV (2002) Longitudinal benefit of positive self-perceptions of aging on functional health. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 57:409–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levy BR, Slade MD, Gill TM (2006) Hearing decline predicted by elders’ stereotypes. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 61:82–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ng R, Allore HG, Trentalange M, Monin JK, Levy BR (2015) Increasing negativity of age stereotypes across 200 years: evidence from a database of 400 million words. PLoS ONE 10(2):e0117086. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117086

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • North MS, Fiske ST (2015) Modern attitudes toward older adults in the aging world—a cross-cultural meta-analysis. Psychol Bull 141:993–1021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ory M, Hoffman MK, Hawkins M, Sanner B, Mockenhaupt R (2003) Challenging aging stereotypes—strategies for creating a more active society. Am J Prev Med 25:164–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quinn KM, Laidlaw K, Murray LK (2009) Older peoples’ attitudes to mental illness. Clin Psychol Psychother 16:33–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rothermund K, Brandtstadter J (2003) Age stereotypes and self-views in later life: evaluating rival assumptions. Int J Behav Dev 27:549–554

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schermelleh-Engel K, Moosbrugger H, Mueller H (2003) Evaluating the fit of structural equation models: test of significance and descriptive goodness-of-fit measures. Methods Psychol Res Online 8:23–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Spangenberg L, Glaesmer H, Braehler E, Kersting A, Strauss B (2012) Considering housing arrangements in elderly life. Factors influencing plans concerning future housing arrangements and preferences in a representative sample of 45+ year olds. Z Gerontol Geriatr 46:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart TL, Chipperfield JG, Perry RP, Weiner B (2012) Attributing illness to ‘old age’: consequences of a self-directed stereotype for health and mortality. Psychol Health 27:881–897

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westerhof G, Miche M, Brothers A, Barrett A, Diehl M, Montepare JM, Wurm S (2014) The influence of subjective aging on health and longevity: a meta-analysis of longitudinal data. Psychol Aging 29(4):793–802

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wurm S, Huxhold O (2012) Sozialer Wandel und individuelle Entwicklung von Altersbildern [engl. social change and individual development of age stereotypes]. In: Berner F, Rossow J, Schwitzer K-P (eds) Individuelle und kulturelle Altersbilder. Expertisen zum Sechsten Altenbericht der Bundesregierung [engl. Individual and cultural age stereotpyes. Expertises about the Sixth National Social Report on the Situation of the Elderly], vol 1. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden, pp 27–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Wurm S, Benyamini Y (2014) Optimism buffers the detrimental effect of negative self-perceptions of ageing on physical and mental health. Psychol Health 29:832–848

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wurm S, Tesch-Romer C, Tomasik MJ (2007) Longitudinal findings on aging-related cognitions, control beliefs, and health in later life. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 62:156–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wurm S, Tomasik MJ, Tesch-Romer C (2010) On the importance of a positive view on ageing for physical exercise among middle-aged and older adults: cross-sectional and longitudinal findings. Psychol Health 25:25–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, 04103, Leipzig, Germany

    Lena Spangenberg, Heide Glaesmer & Elmar Brähler

  2. Faculty of Applied Human Studies, University of Applied Sciences Magdeburg and Stendal, Stendal, Germany

    Markus Zenger

  3. Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB) Adiposity Diseases - Behavioral Medicine, Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany

    Markus Zenger

  4. Institute of Psychosocial Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany

    Bernhard Strauss

Authors
  1. Lena Spangenberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Markus Zenger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Heide Glaesmer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Elmar Brähler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Bernhard Strauss
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lena Spangenberg.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Responsible editor : D.J.H. Deeg

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Spangenberg, L., Zenger, M., Glaesmer, H. et al. Assessing age stereotypes in the German population in 1996 and 2011: socio-demographic correlates and shift over time. Eur J Ageing 15, 47–56 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-017-0432-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-017-0432-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation