SOCIAL CHANGE OF VIEWS ON AGING OVER TWO DECADES: ARE THEY GETTING MORE POSITIVE?

摘要

Previous studies have shown impressively the preponderance of negative views on aging (VoA), in particular in older adults. On the contrary, portrayals of older people in the media have become more positive and individuals born later are healthier in old age compared to those born earlier. Thus, VoA may have changed to the positive in Germany between 1996 and 2014. Overall, findings based on four waves of the German Ageing Survey (n = 20,715; 42–83 years) show that VoA became more positive during this period. Social change of VoA differed, however, by age: More positive changes were found for older adults compared to middle-aged adults; resulting in a convergence in the valence of their VoA. Moreover the findings showed varyingly strong changes for gain- vs. loss-related VoA during the 18-year period. Results are discussed beyond the background of chances and strains in different cohorts and age groups.