Disrupting Younger Adults’ Age-based Stereotypes: The Impact of an Intergenerational Artistic Installation

ABSTRACT

Younger adults often endorse age-based stereotypes which have repercussions on the health and well-being of younger and older adults. The purpose of this study was to measure and describe the influence of an intergenerational, artistic installation on younger adults’ attitudes toward aging and older adults. A convergent parallel mixed method design was employed. Participants (n = 34; M = 19.37 years old; 94% female; 82% Caucasian) completed surveys about their attitudes toward aging and older adults pre-viewing, post-viewing, and one-month post-viewing the installation. Data were analyzed using mixed modeling for survey data and thematic analysis for semi-structured interviews conducted post-viewing. Both quantitative and qualitative results suggested that the installation improved younger adults’ attitudes toward older adults immediately post-viewing and one-month post-viewing. Thematic analysis revealed this improvement might be due to anticipated changes in behavior, reinforcement of positive views of older adults, and transformation of negative views of older adults to positive views. Younger adults’ attitudes toward aging did not change post-viewing or one-month post-viewing. Qualitative results suggest this might be due to preexisting positive attitudes, increased self-awareness of eventual aging, and the affirmation of aging-related fears. Future research is needed to establish whether the installation supports sustained changes in attitudes.

KEYWORDS:

• Art
• intergenerational
• agism
• attitudes
• age-based stereotypes

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Connor Corrente for assisting with data collection and analysis as well as the FaceAge team members for their work in making the conceptualization of FaceAge come to life: Emily Burns, Aaron Cavazos, Nate Daniel, William Doan, Cody Goddard, Amy Lorek, and Dave Monahan. The authors acknowledge the funders and partners who have invested in the FaceAge exhibit including Barnes and Noble Education, the Department of Film Studies at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, the Pennsylvania State University Colleges of Arts and Architecture, Health and Human Development, and Nursing, as well as the Arts and Design Research Incubator, the Center for Healthy Aging, and the Center for Geriatric Nursing Excellence. Donna Fick acknowledges research support from the National Institute on Aging (2R01AG030618-05A1).

Additional information

Funding

This work was made possible in part by funding from Sigma Theta Tau’s Beta Sigma Chapter and The Pennsylvania State University’s Center for Healthy Aging. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of these organizations.