Age stereotyping and intergenerational communication

Abstract

Previous research on age-based stereotypes has shown that elderly (aged 65+ years) tend to be perceived more negatively than other target age groups. There is also evidence of age differences in the perception of elderly, such that as the age of the viewer increases the greater the number, and degree of differentiation, of the group stereotypes. Additionally, intergenerational communication research has indicated that the elderly are frequent victims of a communication predicament in which the age group stereotypes held by young and elderly interlocutors negatively impact on the nature and satisfaction of the communication interaction (e.g., Communication Predicament Model: Ryan, Hummert & Boich, 1995). Given these findings, and the very real problem of a New Zealand society that is coming to terms with the demands associated with an increasing average life span, it was the aim of the present study to evaluate the nature of stereotyping of elderly and the impact of these stereotypes on intergenerational communication in this country. The participants for this study were 153 high school students aged between 14 and 17 years, who completed questionnaires including items to elicit age-based stereotypes and their experiences and intentions towards intergenerational communication. Participants indicated the extent to which 18 traits were characteristic of three different age groups (adolescence, young/middle-aged adults, and elderly), the attributes adolescents considered would be characteristic of themselves as future elderly, and the characteristics they perceived elderly to attribute to adolescents themselves. Participants also indicated the frequency of previous contact with elderly and the contexts in which contact had occurred, their perceptions of communication behaviours from the interactions, and the degree of satisfaction derived from these interactions. The prediction that adolescents would hold more differentiated stereotypes of their own group as opposed to young/middle-aged adults and elderly was partially supported. The participants differentiated between two dimensions of adolescent and young/middle-aged adult stereotypes ('Dynamism' and 'Disposition'), while stereotyping elderly on a single, evaluative dimension. Though less positive than the two younger age groups, elderly were still viewed more positively than indicated by previous research. Adolescents showed a tendency to evaluate themselves more favourably as future elderly than they viewed elderly in general, evidencing a self-other discrepancy. At the same time they perceived that elderly hold a less favourable view of adolescents than adolescents themselves hold. Attempts to link age stereotypes with communication satisfaction suggested that stereotypes play no role in intergenerational communication satisfaction, though there was evidence that increased frequency and intimacy of contact with family elderly was positively related to satisfaction with family elderly. There were no significant relationships found for communication satisfaction in interactions with non-family elderly. Based on these findings it was concluded that there is a developmental component to age stereotyping that is linked to frequency of intergenerational contact -put simply adolescents may have little basis for stereotyping elderly which accounts for their lack of stereotype differentiation. The lack of relationship between stereotyping and communication satisfaction raises questions about the assumptions made by the Communication Predicament Model of intergenerational communication. Implications of the research are discussed.