The worldwide ageism crisis

Abstract

Ageism is a worldwide crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated ageism toward older adults with hate speech, intergenerational resentment, and human rights violations. This article provides an overview of the interdisciplinary and international theoretical and applied research literature in three subareas: intergenerational attitudes and relations, psychological and physical effects of ageism on older adults, and reducing ageism. Cross-cutting themes are the need to (1) consider positive (including seemingly “positive”) and negative views, treatment, and experiences of older adults, (2) expand the study of diverse populations including by age and country as well as intersectionality of ageism and other isms (e.g., ableism, classism, heterosexism, racism, sexism), (3) expand the study of the wide-ranging manifestations of ageism at multiple levels of analysis including greater attention to human rights and new indicators of ageism, and (4) expand the circle of interdisciplinary and international collaborations within and across communities worldwide with all stakeholders and policymakers. Ageism and other isms are intertwined with and multiplied by population aging and other societal issues such as pandemics and climate crises. This article aims to further sound the alarm for the urgent need for age-friendly societies and addressing ageism through basic research, preventive measures, and intervention efforts.