https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2023.676
Negative and positive ageism in an Italian sample: how ageist beliefs relate to epistemic trust, psychological distress, and well-being
Submitted: December 15, 2022
Accepted: May 4, 2023
Published: July 27, 2023
Accepted: May 4, 2023
Abstract Views: 2327
PDF: 604
HTML: 91
HTML: 91
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
Ageism is a social issue of growing concern; ageist beliefs can shape the individual and collective experience of aging. The present study aimed to explore positive and negative ageism in young adults (YA) (18-30 years) and adults (AD) (31-60 years) and their relationship with epistemic trust, psychological distress, and psychological well-being. 301 Italian adult participants completed an online survey that included the following self-report questionnaires: attitudes towards older people scale, epistemic trust, mistrust and credulity questionnaire, depression anxiety stress scale-21, and Warwick-Edinburgh mental wellbeing scale. Negative ageism was significantly higher in YA compared to AD; on the contrary, AD presented more positive ageism than YA. When considering the entire sample, negative ageism was correlated with various dimensions of psychological distress and epistemic trust. A mediation model revealed that epistemic mistrust fully mediated the relationship between age and negative ageism, suggesting that changes in ageist beliefs that seem to occur with age are mediated by a mistrustful epistemic stance. Future research should focus on further exploring the link between epistemic trust, mental health, and holding ageist beliefs. The results are also discussed in terms of their implications for the treatment of older patients.
American Psychological Association. (2014). Guidelines for psychological practice with older adults. American Psychologist, 69(1), 34-65. doi: 10.1037/a0035063.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035063
Antony, M., Bieling, P., Cox, B., Enns, M., & Swinson, R. (1998). Psychometric properties of the 42-item and 21-item versions of the depression anxiety stress scales in clinical groups and a community sample. Psychological Assessment, 10(2), 176-181. doi: 10.1037/1040-3590.10.2.176.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/1040-3590.10.2.176
Ayalon, L., & Tesch-Römer, C. (2018). Contemporary perspectives on ageism. Berlin, Springer Nature.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-73820-8
Barbabella, F., Cela, E., Socci, M., Lucantoni, D., Zannella, M., & Principi, A. (2022). Active ageing in Italy: a systematic review of national and regional policies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(1), 600. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19010600.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010600
Barger, S. D. (2002). The Marlowe-Crowne affair: short forms, psychometric structure, and social desirability. Journal of Personality Assessment, 79(2), 286-305. doi: 10.1207/S15327752JPA7902_11.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327752JPA7902_11
Bottesi, G., Ghisi, M., Altoè, G., Conforti, E., Melli, G., & Sica, C. (2015). The Italian version of the depression anxiety stress scales-21: factor structure and psychometric properties on community and clinical samples. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 60, 170-181. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2015.04.005.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2015.04.005
Bousfield, C., & Hutchison, P. (2010). Contact, anxiety, and young people’s attitudes and behavioral intentions towards the elderly. Educational Gerontology, 36(6), 451-466. doi: 10.1080/03601270903324362.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03601270903324362
Butler, R. N. (1975). Psychiatry and the elderly: an overview. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 132(9), 893-900. doi: 10.1176/ajp.132.9.893.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.132.9.893
Campbell, C., Tanzer, M., Saunders, R., Booker, T., Allison, E., Li, E., O’Dowda, C., Luyten, P., & Fonagy, P. (2021). Development and validation of a self-report measure of epistemic trust. PloS One, 16(4), e0250264. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250264.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250264
Cary, L. A., Chasteen, A. L., & Remedios, J. (2017). The ambivalent ageism scale: developing and validating a scale to measure benevolent and hostile ageism. The Gerontologist, 57(2), e27–e36. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnw118.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnw118
Chang, E.-S., Kannoth, S., Levy, S., Wang, S.-Y., Lee, J. E., & Levy, B. R. (2020). Global reach of ageism on older persons’ health: a systematic review. PloS One, 15(1), e0220857. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220857.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220857
Cherry, K. E., Brigman, S., Lyon, B. A., Blanchard, B., Walker, E. J., & Smitherman, E. A. (2016). Self-reported ageism across the lifespan: role of aging knowledge. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 83(4), 366-380. doi: 10.1177/0091415016657562.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0091415016657562
Cherry, K. E., & Palmore, E. (2008). Relating to older people evaluation (ROPE): a measure of self-reported ageism. Educational Gerontology, 34(10), 849-861. doi: 10.1080/03601270802042099.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03601270802042099
Cuddy, A. J. C., Norton, M. I., & Fiske, S. T. (2005). This old stereotype: the pervasiveness and persistence of the elderly stereotype. Journal of Social Issues, 61(2), 267-285. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-4560.2005.00405.x
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.2005.00405.x
Cuijpers, P., Karyotaki, E., Pot, A. M., Park, M., & Reynolds III, C. F. (2014). Managing depression in older age: psychological interventions. Maturitas, 79(2), 160-169. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2014.05.027.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2014.05.027
Dinh, K. T., Holmberg, M. D., Ho, I. K., & Haynes, M. C. (2014). The relationship of prejudicial attitudes to psychological, social, and physical well-being within a sample of college students in the United States. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 21(2), 56-66.
Donizzetti, A. R. (2019). Ageism in an aging society: the role of knowledge, anxiety about aging, and stereotypes in young people and adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(8), 1329. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16081329.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16081329
Fonagy, P., & Allison, E. (2014). The role of mentalizing and epistemic trust in the therapeutic relationship. Psychotherapy, 51(3), 372. doi: 10.1037/a0036505.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0036505
Freud, S. (1905). On psychotherapy. Standard Edition, 7(267), 64-145.
Giovanardi, G., Fiorini Bincoletto, A., Baiocco, R., Ferrari, M., Gentile, D., Siri, M., Tanzilli, A., & Lingiardi, V. (2022). Lockdown dreams: dream content and emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic in an Italian sample. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 39(2), 111-126. doi: 10.1037/pap0000385.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/pap0000385
Gremigni, P., & Stewart-Brown, S. (2011). Measuring mental well-being: Italian validation of the Warwick-Edinburgh mental well-being scale (WEMWBS). Giornale Italiano di Psicologia, 38, 485-505.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2011.143586.86
Harwood, J. (2007). Understanding communication and aging: developing knowledge and awareness. Thousand Oaks, SAGE.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452225920
Hayes, A. F. (2017). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis, second edition: a regression-based approach. New York, Guilford Publications.
Henderson, J., Xiao, L., Siegloff, L., Kelton, M., & Paterson, J. (2008). Older people have lived their lives: first year nursing students’ attitudes towards older people. Contemporary Nurse, 30(1), 32-45. doi: 10.5172/conu.673.30.1.32.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5172/conu.673.30.1.32
Henry, J. D., & Crawford, J. R. (2005). The short-form version of the depression anxiety stress scales (DASS-21): construct validity and normative data in a large non-clinical sample. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 44(2), 227-239. doi: 10.1348/014466505X29657.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1348/014466505X29657
Henry, R. S., Perrin, P. B., & Smith, E. R. (2019). The underpinnings of ageism: multiple mediational model of epistemological style, social dominance orientation, right-wing authoritarianism, and ageist attitudes. Journal of Aging Research, 2019, 3672725. doi: 10.1155/2019/3672725.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/3672725
Hummert, M. L., Garstka, T. A., Shaner, J. L., & Strahm, S. (1994). Stereotypes of the elderly held by young, middle-aged, and elderly adults. Journal of Gerontology, 49(5), P240-P249. doi: 10.1093/geronj/49.5.P240.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/geronj/49.5.P240
Imhoff, R., Lamberty, P., & Klein, O. (2018). Using power as a negative cue: how conspiracy mentality affects epistemic trust in sources of historical knowledge. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 44(9), 1364-1379. doi: 10.1177/0146167218768779.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167218768779
Iversen, T., Larsen, L., & Solem, P. E. (2009). A conceptual analysis of ageism. Nordic Psychology, 61, 4-22. doi: 10.1027/1901-2276.61.3.4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1027/1901-2276.61.3.4
Johnson, P. (1992). Attitudes held by beginning tertiary nursing students towards elderly people: positive outcomes. Australian Journal on Ageing, 11(4), 35-41. doi: 10.1111/j.1741-6612.1992.tb00567.x.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-6612.1992.tb00567.x
Jung, C. G. (2014). Collected works of CG Jung, volume 6: psychological types (Vol. 16). Princeton, Princeton University Press.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400850860
Kang, H., & Kim, H. (2022). Ageism and psychological well-being among older adults: a systematic review. Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, 8, 23337214221087023. doi: 10.1177/23337214221087023.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/23337214221087023
Kessler, E.-M., & Blachetta, C. (2020). Age cues in patients’ descriptions influence treatment attitudes. Aging & Mental Health, 24(1), 193-196. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2018.1515889.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2018.1515889
Lederman, S., & Shefler, G. (2022). Psychotherapy with older adults: ageism and the therapeutic process. Psychotherapy Research, 33(3), 350-361. doi: 10.1080/10503307.2022.2094298.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2022.2094298
Levy, B. R., Slade, M. D., Chang, E.-S., Kannoth, S., & Wang, S.-Y. (2020). Ageism amplifies cost and prevalence of health conditions. The Gerontologist, 60(1), 174-181. doi: 10.1093/geront/gny131.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gny131
Levy, B. R., Slade, M. D., Kunkel, S. R., & Kasl, S. V. (2002). Longevity increased by positive self-perceptions of aging. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83(2), 261-70. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.83.2.261.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.83.2.261
Levy, S. R. (2018). Toward reducing ageism: PEACE (positive education about aging and contact experiences) model. The Gerontologist, 58(2), 226-232. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnw116.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnw116
Levy, S. R., & Macdonald, J. L. (2016). Progress on understanding ageism. Journal of Social Issues, 72(1), 5-25. doi: 10.1111/josi.12153.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12153
Lingiardi, V., & McWilliams, N. (2017). Psychodynamic diagnostic manual, second edition (PDM-2). New York, Guilford Publications.
Liotti, M., Milesi, A., Spitoni, G. F., Tanzilli, A., Speranza, A. M., Parolin, L., Campbell, C., Fonagy, P., Lingiardi, V., & Giovanardi, G. (2023). Unpacking trust: the Italian validation of the epistemic trust, mistrust, and credulity questionnaire (ETMCQ). PLoS One, 18(1), e0280328. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280328.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280328
López, J., Noriega, C., & Giner, M. (2020). Development and validation of ageist myths in a psychotherapy questionnaire (AMPQ): professional ageism among psychology graduate students. Educational Gerontology, 46(10), 642-652. doi: 10.1080/03601277.2020.1801705.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2020.1801705
Lucantoni, D., Principi, A., Socci, M., Zannella, M., & Barbabella, F. (2022). Active ageing in Italy: an evidence-based model to provide recommendations for policy making and policy implementation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(5), 2746. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19052746.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052746
Lyons, A., Alba, B., Heywood, W., Fileborn, B., Minichiello, V., Barrett, C., Hinchliff, S., Malta, S., & Dow, B. (2018). Experiences of ageism and the mental health of older adults. Aging and Mental Health, 22(11), 1456-1464. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2017.1364347.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2017.1364347
Lytle, A., Macdonald, J., Apriceno, M., & Levy, S. R. (2021). Reducing ageism with brief videos about aging education, ageism, and intergenerational contact. The Gerontologist, 61(7), 1164-1168. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnaa167.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaa167
Molina-Luque, F., Stončikaitė, I., Torres-González, T., & Sanvicen-Torné, P. (2022). Profiguration, active ageing, and creativity: keys for quality of life and overcoming ageism. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1564. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19031564.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031564
Packer, D. J., & Chasteen, A. L. (2006). Looking to the future: how possible aged selves influence prejudice toward older adults. Social Cognition, 24(3), 218-247. doi: 10.1521/soco.2006.24.3.218.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1521/soco.2006.24.3.218
Patel, K., Robertson, E., Kwong, A. S. F., Griffith, G. J., Willan, K., Green, M. J., Di Gessa, G., Huggins, C. F., McElroy, E., Thompson, E. J., Maddock, J., Niedzwiedz, C. L., Henderson, M., Richards, M., Steptoe, A., Ploubidis, G. B., Moltrecht, B., Booth, C., Fitzsimons, E., Silverwood, R., Patalay, P., Porteous, D., & Vittal Katikireddi, S. (2022). Psychological distress before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among adults in the United Kingdom based on coordinated analyses of 11 longitudinal studies. JAMA Network Open, 5(4), e227629. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.7629.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.7629
Pierre, J. M. (2020). Mistrust and misinformation: a two-component, socio-epistemic model of belief in conspiracy theories. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 8(2). doi: 10.5964/jspp.v8i2.1362.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v8i2.1362
Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1997). Successful aging. The Gerontologist, 37(4), 433-440. doi: 10.1093/geront/37.4.433.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/37.4.433
Rupp, D. E., Vodanovich, S. J., & Credé, M. (2005). The multidimensional nature of ageism: construct validity and group differences. The Journal of Social Psychology, 145(3), 335-362. doi: 10.3200/SOCP.145.3.335-362.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3200/SOCP.145.3.335-362
Smith, M. L., Bergeron, C. D., Cowart, C., Ahn, S., Towne Jr., S. D., Ory, M. G., Menn, M. A., & Chaney, J. (2017). Factors associated with ageist attitudes among college students. Geriatrics & Gerontology International, 17(10), 1698-1706. doi: 10.1111/ggi.12894.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.12894
Steverink, N., Westerhof, G. J., Bode, C., & Dittmann-Kohli, F. (2001). The personal experience of aging, individual resources, and subjective well-being. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 56(6), P364-P373. doi: 10.1093/geronb/56.6.p364.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/56.6.P364
Stewart-Brown, S., Tennant, A., Tennant, R., Platt, S., Parkinson, J., & Weich, S. (2009). Internal construct validity of the Warwick-Edinburgh mental well-being scale (WEMWBS): a rasch analysis using data from the Scottish health education population survey. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 7, 15. doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-7-15
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-7-15
Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. (2004). The Social Identity Theory of Intergroup Behavior. In Political Psychology. London, Psychology Press.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203505984-16
Tanzilli, A., Cibelli, A., Liotti, M., Fiorentino, F., Williams, R., & Lingiardi, V. (2022). Personality, defenses, mentalization, and epistemic trust related to pandemic containment strategies and the COVID-19 vaccine: a sequential mediation model. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(21), 14290. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192114290.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114290
Taşdemir, N. (2020). Young group identification and motives as predictors of ageism, aging anxiety, and life satisfaction. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 181(5), 375-390. doi: 10.1080/00221325.2020.1783195.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00221325.2020.1783195
Tennant, R., Hiller, L., Fishwick, R., Platt, S., Joseph, S., Weich, S., Parkinson, J., Secker, J., & Stewart-Brown, S. (2007). The Warwick-Edinburgh mental well-being scale (WEMWBS): development and UK validation. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 5, 63. doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-5-63.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-5-63
Visintin, E. P. (2021). Contact with older people, ageism, and containment behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 31(3), 314-325. doi: 10.1002/casp.2504.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.2504
Wilkinson, W. K., & Migotsky, C. P. (1994). A factor analytic study of epistemological style inventories. Journal of Psychology, 128(1), 91-100. doi:10.1080/00223980.1991.10543274.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.1994.9914909
WHO (2021). Ageing and health. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health
How to Cite
Fiorini Bincoletto, A., Zanini, L., Spitoni, G. F., & Lingiardi, V. (2023). Negative and positive ageism in an Italian sample: how ageist beliefs relate to epistemic trust, psychological distress, and well-being. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome, 26(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2023.676
Copyright (c) 2023 the Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.
Similar Articles
- Vera Békés, Claire J. Starrs, J. Christopher Perry, Tracy A. Prout, Ciro Conversano, Mariagrazia Di Giuseppe, Defense mechanisms are associated with mental health symptoms across six countries , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 26 No. 3 (2023)
- Giorgio Falgares, Giulia Costanzo, Giovanna Manna, Dorian A. Lamis, Childhood emotional maltreatment and internalizing problems in a non-clinical sample of adolescents: a moderated-mediation model of insecure anxious attachment style and gender , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 27 No. 2 (2024)
- Cecilia Giordano, Ivan Ambrosiano , Maria Teresa Graffeo, Alessandro Di Caro, Salvatore Gullo, The transition to online psychotherapy during the pandemic: a qualitative study on patients’ perspectives , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 25 No. 3 (2022): SPECIAL ISSUE: "Group psychotherapy: between settled benchmarks and new horizons"
- Vittorio Lingiardi, Nancy McWilliams, Laura Muzi, The contribution of Sidney Blatt's two-polarities model to the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 20 No. 1 (2017)
- Kiran Boone, Kennedy M. Balzen, Carla Sharp, Impairment in personality functioning predicts young adult suicidal ideation and suicide attempt above and beyond depressive symptoms , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 27 No. 3 (2024)
- Chiara Manfredi, Gabriele Caselli, Federica Pescini, Martina Rossi, Daniela Rebecchi, Giovanni Maria Ruggiero, Sandra Sassaroli, Parental criticism, self-criticism and their relation to depressive mood: an exploratory study among a non-clinical population , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 19 No. 1 (2016): Special issue on Qualitative and Quantitative Research in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy: part 2
- Francesco Gazzillo, Adriano Schimmenti, Ivan Formica, Alessandra Simonelli, Sergio Salvatore, Effectiveness is the gold standard of clinical research , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 20 No. 2 (2017)
- Eunice Barbosa, Maria Amendoeira, Tiago Ferreira, Ana Sofia Teixeira, José Pinto-Gouveia, Joào Salgado, Immersion and distancing across the therapeutic process: relationship to symptoms and emotional arousal , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 20 No. 2 (2017)
- Violeta Stefania Rotărescu, Diana Bianca Matei, Ioana Alexandra Mircea, Andreea Maria Mirescu, Bogdan George Nedelescu, Daniela Georgiana Nedelea, Alexandra Nicoleta Raluca Neagu, Alexandru George Necșulescu, Gabriel Angelo Oteșanu, Lucian Constantin Tudor, How anxious did you feel during lockdown? The roles resilience, living environment, and gender play on the level of anxiety state during pandemic isolation , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 23 No. 3 (2020)
- Mahbobe Ghavidel Heydari, Mahmoud Shirazi, Gholam Reza Sanagouyemoharer, The effect of positive psychotherapy in test anxiety among Zahedan students with hemophilia , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 21 No. 1 (2018)
<< < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >>
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.
