Negative stereotypes about age may be bad for your health
While this isn't necessarily good news, I'm sure glad it came out. According to a new study by the Yale School of Public Health, we find that feeding into negative age stereotypes - like the perception that all older people are weak - can have detrimental effects on your health. Via USA Today's blog, A Better Life:
More than 400 people, age 18 to 49, were surveyed on their age stereotypes. Thirty years later, 25% of those with more negative age stereotypes - such as the belief that the elderly are feeble or helpless - had suffered a heart problem or stroke, while only 13% of those with more positive age stereotypes experienced a heart problem or stroke. The study appears in the March issue of the journal Psychological Science.Becca R. Levy, associate professor of epidemiology and psychology at Yale is the study's lead author. In earlier studies, Levy and colleagues found that negative ideas about age can increase stress and decrease the likelihood that the person will live healthfully, increasing the risk of poor cardiovascular health.
This isn't too surprising, but can serve as a useful reminder to avoid getting sucked into age-old (no pun intended) stereotypes that do nothing but harm mentally and physically.
Comments
Oxpictus says:
I was an accountant in a senior care facility. There was one lady on staff that was only 4 older than I was, (I was 66) and when I first met her, I thought she was one of the residents. She had short, grey hair done in an old-lady style from the 50's, had on those awful pointy glasses that were also popular in the 50's, walked and talked like she was 95 years old. She would come in the office to use the postage meter machine for a mailing, and would always act like she'd never seen a meter machine before, even though I walked her through the steps every two weeks, for over a year.
I think this lady was buying into the perception of feeble and helpless seniors. Her "role models" were all around her.
I sincerely believe that if you continue to use make-up, dye your hair, have it styled in something current (and age appropriate), think young, keep up with current events, have some young friends, stay active and dress nice, you can maintain a healthy young lifestyle. Buy into the "old lady" stereotype and you're a goner.
03/24/09 7:20 PM