Objectives
This study evaluated the relationship between ageism and depression, exploring the stress-mediating and stress-moderating roles of emotional reactions and coping behaviors. Methods
Data were from the 2013 Ageism and Health Study (n = 816), a cross-sectional survey of urban and rural community-dwelling seniors aged 60–89 years in South Korea. Participants with at least one experience of ageism reported on their emotional reactions and coping responses. The measure yielded two types of coping: problem-focused (taking formal action, confrontation, seeking social support) and emotion-focused (passive acceptance, emotional discharge). Results
Although ageism was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (B = 0.27, p < 0.0001), the association was entirely mediated by emotional reactions such as anger, sadness, and powerlessness. Problem-focused coping, especially confrontation and social support, seemingly reduced the impact of emotional reactions on depression, whereas emotion-focused coping exacerbated the adverse effects. Conclusion
These findings support the cultural characterization explanation of ageism and related coping processes among Korean elderly and suggest that regulating emotional reactions may determine the efficacy of coping with ageism.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Can Residents Access Leisure Spaces in Our City: Investigating the Leisure Space Distribution in Seoul, South Korea Hyun-Young Jin, Junhee Cho, Yujin Kim, Lisa Lim Leisure Sciences.2024; : 1. CrossRef
Reducing negative attitudes toward older adults and increasing advocacy for policies to support older adults: Bayesian analysis approach Yuho Shimizu, Takaaki Hashimoto, Kaori Karasawa Acta Psychologica.2023; 239: 103995. CrossRef
Changes in perceived ageism during the COVID-19 pandemic: impact on quality of life and mental well-being among Dutch adults aged 55 and older Lotte P. Brinkhof, J. M. J. Murre, S. de Wit, H. J. Krugers, K. R. Ridderinkhof Aging & Mental Health.2023; 27(12): 2490. CrossRef
Impact of a Nonfamilial Intergenerational Program With a Mobile Application on College Students’ Attitudes Toward Older Adults in Taiwan Jeffrey Tsifan Tseng, Hsinyi Hsiao, Amy Pei-Lung Yu, Yi Chen Journal of the Society for Social Work and Researc.2023; 14(2): 365. CrossRef
A phenomenological, intersectional understanding of coping with ageism and racism among older adults Andrew T. Steward, Yating Zhu, Carson M. De Fries, Annie Zean Dunbar, Miguel Trujillo, Leslie Hasche Journal of Aging Studies.2023; 67: 101186. CrossRef
Do we all perceive experiences of age discrimination in the same way? Cross-cultural differences in perceived age discrimination and its association with life satisfaction M. Clara P. de Paula Couto, Jana Nikitin, Sylvie Graf, Helene H. Fung, Thomas M. Hess, Shyhnan Liou, Klaus Rothermund European Journal of Ageing.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
The Trajectory of Depressive Symptoms Across Years of Community Care Utilization Among Older Adults: A 14-Year Follow-up Study Using the ‘Korean Welfare Panel Survey’ Il-Ho Kim, Cheong-Seok Kim, Min-Hyeok Jeong Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health.2023; 56(6): 495. CrossRef
Mitigating the Harmful Impact of Ageism among Older Individuals: The Buffering Role of Resilience Factors Lotte P. Brinkhof, Sanne de Wit, Jaap M. J. Murre, K. Richard Ridderinkhof Geriatrics.2023; 9(1): 1. CrossRef
Reducing ageism focusing on stereotype embodiment theory: Pre-registered study and Bayesian analysis approach Yuho Shimizu Experimental Results.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Association Between Self-Perceived Stigma and Quality of Life Among Urban Chinese Older Adults: The Moderating Role of Attitude Toward Own Aging and Traditionality Tao Sun, Shu-E Zhang, Meng-yao Yan, Ting-hui Lian, Yi-qi Yu, Hong-yan Yin, Chen-xi Zhao, Yan-ping Wang, Xiao Chang, Ke-yu Ji, Si-yu Cheng, Xiao-he Wang, Xian-hong Huang, De-pin Cao Frontiers in Public Health.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
You’re Too Old for That! Ageism and Prescriptive Stereotypes in the Workplace Elizabeth A Hanrahan, Courtney L Thomas, Lisa M Finkelstein, Mo Wang Work, Aging and Retirement.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Ageism and Psychological Well-Being Among Older Adults: A Systematic Review Hyun Kang, Hansol Kim Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine.2022; 8: 233372142210870. CrossRef
The Subjective Experience of Ageism: The Perceived Ageism Questionnaire (PAQ) Lotte P. Brinkhof, Sanne de Wit, Jaap M. J. Murre, Harm J. Krugers, K. Richard Ridderinkhof International Journal of Environmental Research an.2022; 19(14): 8792. CrossRef
Depressive Symptoms and Ageism among Nursing Home Residents: The Role of Social Support Dongjuan Xu, Yaqi Wang, Ming Li, Meng Zhao, Zhenhua Yang, Kefang Wang International Journal of Environmental Research an.2022; 19(19): 12105. CrossRef
Coping Style, Insomnia, and Psychological Distress Among Persons With Gastrointestinal Cancer Gaorong Lv, Di Zhao, Guopeng Li, Qing Wang, Miao Zhou, Yiming Gao, Xiangyu Zhao, Ping Li Nursing Research.2022; 71(6): 450. CrossRef
Assessing knowledge and ageist attitudes and behaviors toward older adults among undergraduate nursing students Mohammad Rababa, Tariq Al-Dwaikat, Maysa H. Almomani Gerontology & Geriatrics Education.2021; 42(3): 347. CrossRef
Day-to-Day Variability in Subjective Age and Ageist Attitudes and Their Association With Depressive Symptoms Ehud Bodner, Amit Shrira, Yaakov Hoffman, Yoav S Bergman, Shevaun Neupert The Journals of Gerontology: Series B.2021; 76(5): 836. CrossRef
Association of nurses’ characteristics and level of knowledge with ageist attitudes toward older adults: a systematic review Mohammad Rababa, Ammar M. Hammouri, Sami Al-Rawashdeh Working with Older People.2021; 25(1): 21. CrossRef
Associations of perceived poor societal treatment among the oldest-old M Knuutila, TE Lehti, H Karppinen, H Kautiainen, TE Strandberg, KH Pitkala Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics.2021; 93: 104318. CrossRef
Ageism and the Factors Affecting Ageism among Korean Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study Jiyeon Ha, Juah Kim International Journal of Environmental Research an.2021; 18(4): 1798. CrossRef
Psychometrics of Persian Version of the Ageism Survey Among an Iranian Older Adult Population During COVID-19 Pandemic Hamid Sharif Nia, Long She, Ratneswary Rasiah, Fatemeh Khoshnavay Fomani, Omolhoda Kaveh, Saeed Pahlevan Sharif, Lida Hosseini Frontiers in Public Health.2021;[Epub] CrossRef
Global reach of ageism on older persons’ health: A systematic review E-Shien Chang, Sneha Kannoth, Samantha Levy, Shi-Yi Wang, John E. Lee, Becca R. Levy, Antony Bayer PLOS ONE.2020; 15(1): e0220857. CrossRef
The Role of Socio-demographics in Adoption of Religious–Spiritual and Other Coping Strategies Among Muslim Chronic Patients with Hepatitis C in Pakistan Malik Muhammad Sohail, Saeed Ahmad, Fauzia Maqsood Journal of Religion and Health.2020; 59(1): 234. CrossRef
Association of nurses' level of knowledge and attitudes to ageism toward older adults: Cross‐sectional study Mohammad Rababa, Ammar M. Hammouri, Issa M. Hweidi, Julie L. Ellis Nursing & Health Sciences.2020; 22(3): 593. CrossRef
How does ageism influence frailty? A preliminary study using a structural equation model Bo Ye, Junling Gao, Hua Fu, Hao Chen, Wenjing Dong, Ming Gu BMC Geriatrics.2020;[Epub] CrossRef
Ageism, Attitudes Toward Aging, and Body Satisfaction by Subjective Socioeconomic and Health Status Among Older Women Haekyung Yu, Minsun Lee Fashion & Textile Research Journal.2019; 21(5): 586. CrossRef
Where are we now in relation to determining the prevalence of ageism in this era of escalating population ageing? Donna M. Wilson, Begoña Errasti-Ibarrondo, Gail Low Ageing Research Reviews.2019; 51: 78. CrossRef