What are the negative effects of ageism?
The study’s principal author, Levy, stated, “The harmful reach of ageism that our team discovered shows the necessity to combat ageism.” The research is published in the current issue of the PLOS ONE journal. The Yale School of Public Health did the first systematic study about age discrimination and has examined the structural and individual levels of ageism. It reviewed the effect of negative stress-inducing stereotypes from society on seniors’ health.
The Yale researchers have found that ageism was associated with poorer outcomes in various mental health disorders, such as depression, and physical health problems, like reduced life expectancy. The research discovered that when older people internalize unfavourable age stereotypes from society, their life expectancy is shortened. This finding, consistent with other studies in different countries, including Australia, Germany, and China, was first recognized by Levy in previous research.
Levy and her colleagues discovered that ageism affected how older patients received medical care and the duration and frequency of the given therapy. In 85 percent of all relevant investigations, there was evidence of denied access to healthcare treatments. According to the researchers, there was evidence of ageism in medical judgments in 92 percent of international reviews of health care students and professionals. As they say, this trend has gotten worse over time. This comprehensive study also discovered that ageism affects older people regardless of their age, gender, or racial group.
Ageism is an issue in all societies. Ageing is seen as a case that takes your beauty, health, and wealth. So believing this will have negative impacts like stress, depression, and a higher risk of heart diseases. They feel like they are a burden to others and their lives are less valuable, which can cause isolation and depression. It also brings low self-esteem and increases withdrawal and physical decline. Plus, wait for a shorter life expectancy as the outcome of ageism.
Ageism has many adverse effects such as stress, depression, a higher risk of heart disease, feeling like a burden to others, an increased risk of isolation, low self-esteem, all of which can lead to withdrawal and physical decline. Scientists have linked Alzheimer-related brain changes to negative beliefs about ageing by proving an increased number of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles present in the brain of people who have more negative thoughts surrounding ageing. The stereotypes surrounding this subject can be more than just hurtful to older people, as individuals with more negative self-perceptions of ageing experience a decreased lifespan.
Older people won’t speak up in other parts of their lives because they presume that their voice and opinion won’t matter to anybody, even their own family. Based on a study, age discrimination in older people’s workplaces would cause depression and life dissatisfaction. My grandfather was a cool and active person before forcing him to resign because he had an “old-fashioned strategy.” After he quit, he was suddenly quiet and a bit depressed, displaying it with dark humor and silence in everyday family discussions. Ageism will have a profound impact on seniors’ mental health.
