Young Group Identification and Motives as Predictors of Ageism, Aging Anxiety, and Life Satisfaction

Abstract

The present study examined young group identification and young group motives (i.e., self-esteem, distinctiveness, belonging, meaning, efficacy, and continuity) as predictors of ambivalent ageism, stereotyping of older people, aging anxiety, and life satisfaction among Turkish university students. Participants (N = 226) completed scales measuring age group identification, social identity motives, ambivalent ageism, stereotyping of older people, aging anxiety, and life satisfaction. Multiple hierarchical regression analyses showed that belonging to a young group was a significant predictor for ambivalent ageism. Young group identification and meaning were significant predictors for negative stereotyping of older people. Young group self-esteem was a significant predictor for aging anxiety. Young group identification, self-esteem, and meaning were significant predictors for life satisfaction. None of the independent variables was a significant predictor for positive stereotyping of older people.

Keywords:

• Aging anxiety
• ambivalent ageism
• life satisfaction
• stereotyping
• young group motives

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [N.T.], upon reasonable request.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

No funding was received for this study.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nagihan Taşdemir

Nagihan Taşdemir is a social psychological researcher and lecturer at Anadolu University in Eskişehir, Turkey. She teaches Introduction to Psychology and Social Psychology to the undergraduates. She got her MS and PhD in social psychology at Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey. She worked on the relationships between parenting styles, religiosity and vertical and horizontal individualism and collectivism from perspectives of parents and their young children for her MS degree. She studied the contents of Turkish identity and perceptions of intergroup relationships in Turkey for her PhD degree. Nowadays, she has interest in intergroup attitudes in the context of age group relations.