Understanding Older Adults' Self-Directed Ageism and Positive Perception of Aging from an Intersectionality Perspective

Background: Ageism impacts individuals of all ages, especially older adults. The negative stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination against older adults may be internalized by them, which is called "self-directed ageism." This can shape their unfavorable perceptions of aging and negatively impact their health and well-being. Race/ethnicity and gender identity, as social constructs, affect social opportunities and resources, potentially leading to varied perceptions of aging in older adult communities. However, given the interlocking and reinforcing systems of oppression, older adults with multiple marginalized social identities may endorse more negative aging attitudes, further exacerbating health disparities. Despite research on racial/ethnic and gender differences in older adults’ aging perceptions, no studies have examined the unique perceptions based on their intersecting identities of race/ethnicity and gender. Thus, applying the intersectionality perspective, this study aimed to investigate older adults’ self-directed ageism and positive self-perceptions of aging (SPA) across the intersecting racial/ethnic and gender subgroups.

Methods: Data from the 2008/2010 (T1), 2012/2014 (T2), and 2016/2018 (T3) Health and Retirement Study were used. Race/ethnicity was measured by a four-category variable (1 = non-Hispanic white, 2 = non-Hispanic Black, 3 = Hispanic, and 4 =other groups). Gender was measured dichotomously (0 = women, 1 = men). Multivariate regressions were conducted repeatedly at T1, T2, and T3 to examine differences in self-directed ageism and positive SPA among older adults of racial/ethnic and gender subgroups. Physical and social functioning factors, discrimination, and sociodemographic characteristics were included as covariates.

Results: Compared to non-Hispanic White men, both men and women of racial/ethnic minority groups reported more positive SPA, and non-Hispanic Black men and women reported less self-directed ageism across all the three time points. Compared to non-Hispanic White women, non-Hispanic Black women had more positive SPA and less negative ageism, and Hispanic women reported more positive SPA across three time points. No significant differences were found between non-Hispanic Black men and women. Also, Hispanic men reported more self-directed ageism than Hispanic women and non-Hispanic White men across three time points.

Conclusions: Findings in this study showed that the intersecting effects of race/ethnicity and gender on older adults’ age perceptions are not just the summative or even multiplied effects of multiple marginalized social identities but reflect their unique experiences of different subgroups. Future interventions to reduce older adults' negative self-direct ageism and promote more positive SPA should adopt the intersectionality approach and develop more tailored programs across race/ethnicity, culture, and gender to better meet older adults’ needs and facilitate quality of life and well-being.