Eleventh International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

Concerns are on the rise that ageism has heightened amid the COVID-19 pandemic globally. COVID-19 and heightened ageism could be a formidable threat to older adults’ mental health as well as physical health, leading to marginalization, segregation, and abuse of the older adults. Regardless of the magnitude of the problem, studies with empirical data are few yet. In order to confront the adverse consequences of ageism with effective interventions, it is critical to examine the extent ageism has heightened since the onset of COVID-19 and what the main causes are. Accordingly, this study addresses the following research questions. First, has ageism significantly heightened after COVID-19? Second, what types of ageism are prevalent in relation to COVID-19 (e.g., affective, cognitive, behavioral)? Third, which factors of the pandemic influenced the formation or change of ageism? In order to answer these questions, surveys were conducted by participants aged 18 to 59 in the US. The participants were asked to answer what their responses to the scale would have been prior to COVID-19 and what their responses are after COVID-19. Findings of this study are significant because they discuss a timely and globally occurring problem. In addition, ageism is expected persist even after the pandemic ends, negatively affecting quality of life among the older population. Therefore, ongoing attention to this problem is crucial. Based on quantitative data drawn from the surveys, this study will advance the development of successful anti-ageist practices.