Fatemeh Estebsari, Maedeh Moradpoor Ivki, Mohadeseh Mokhtariyan Delooei,
Volume 17, Issue 0 (12-2024)
While the concept of ageism has existed across centuries, countries, contexts, and cultures, the term itself is relatively new and lacks a universal equivalent in many languages. Ageism encompasses stereotypes (how we think), prejudice, and discrimination directed towards individuals based on their age. Given the recent emergence and growing attention to this concept, this study aims to establish a common and consistent understanding of ageism within scientific literature. This review examined the concept of ageism in older adults. A search of the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases was conducted using the keyword "Ageism" and "Older adult," yielding 18,945 English-language abstracts published between 2014 and 2024. Two researchers independently reviewed the articles in two stages. An initial review of titles and abstracts resulted in the selection of 77 relevant papers. A subsequent full-text review narrowed the selection to 34 papers, of which 17 were ultimately included after a quality assessment. The findings encompassed various aspects of ageism, including types of ageism, its effects, determining factors, and strategies recommended by the World Health Organization to mitigate ageism. Age discrimination significantly diminishes the quality of life for older adults, increasing social isolation and loneliness. Ageism has profound and widespread consequences for individuals' health, well-being, and human rights. For older adults, ageism is associated with shorter life expectancy, poorer physical and mental health, slower recovery from disability, and cognitive decline. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended to implement policies and laws, integrate ageism education into curricula from elementary school to university and in both formal and informal settings, and invest in interventions that foster intergenerational contact to effectively reduce age discrimination.
