Global Health Impacts of Ageism for Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [electronic resource].

9780355922721

Ann Arbor : ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, 2018.

1 online resource (60 p.)

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The objective of this study was to evaluate how a multi-level ageism predictor, encompassing age discrimination, age stereotypes, and self-perceptions of aging, can influence individual health outcomes in domains corresponding to mortality, mental health, physical function, physical health, cognitive function, and health behaviors through a systematic review and meta-analysis. A systematic review search via Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsychINFO, and Global Health yielded 88 studies that captured the health effects of the multi-level ageism predictor. Meta-analyses illustrated that overall ageism yielded the largest effect size on decreased mental health (ES = 0.09; 95% CI = 0.06-0.13), and on decreased physical function (ES = 0.06; 95% CI = 0.04-0.08), in comparison to the other health domains. Furthermore, subgroup analyses by location of sample participants, found that participants from Asia yielded the highest effect size of ageism on health (ES = 0.089; 95% CI = 0.064-0.114). Meta-regression analysis by sample mean age illustrated a positive slope, but yielded no statistical significance, indicating the health impacts of ageism are robust regardless of the sample mean age (Slope = 0.00089; 95% CI = -0.00092-0.00270). Limitations include heterogeneity and the inclusion of only published studies. Future studies are needed to expand the global ageism literature, and to assess whether ageism continues to yield the strongest effect sizes on decreased mental health and decreased physical function. This can potentially be used to develop a functionality decline model for older adults with negative views of aging.

Books / Online / Dissertations & Theses

English

July 30, 2018

Thesis (M.P.H.)--Yale University, 2018.