Title Page
Copyright
Contents
Acknowledgements 15
The Authors 16
Summary 17
1. Introduction 23
1.1. Ageism and ageing 23
1.2. Policy in the UK 25
1.2.1. Implications of ageism for UK policy 25
1.2.2. Current policy initiatives 27
1.3. Aims and outcomes for this report 30
1.3.1. Constructs 31
1.4. Surveys, sampling and methodology 35
2. Relevant evidence from previous UK and European surveys 37
2.1. Introduction 37
2.2. Eurobarometer reports 38
2.3. The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing 39
2.4. Findings 39
2.4.1. Age categorisation 39
2.4.2. Perceptions of age prejudice 40
2.4.3. Experiences of discrimination 40
2.4.4. Stereotypes 41
2.4.5. Perceived threats 42
2.4.6. Expressions of prejudice 42
2.4.7. Intergenerational closeness 43
2.5. Summary and discussion 44
3. Analysis strategy 45
3.1. Introduction 45
3.2. Statistical models 45
3.3. Independent variables 46
3.4. Selection and coding of dependent variables 49
4. Age categorisation and identification 51
4.1. Introduction 51
4.1.1. Key findings 51
4.2. Age self-categorisation 52
4.3. Categorisation of other people as young or old 54
4.3.1. Age at which people are perceived to stop being young 55
4.3.2. Age at which old age is perceived to start 58
4.3.3. Difference between the age at which youth is perceived to end and old age is perceived to start 60
4.4. Age group identification 61
4.5. Summary of age group differences 63
4.6. Summary and discussion 63
5. Perceived age prejudice 65
5.1. Introduction 65
5.1.1. Key findings 65
5.2. Over 50 as 'old' 66
5.3. Perceived extent of discrimination against people over 70 69
5.4. Perceived seriousness of age discrimination 72
5.5. Perceptions of media bias against older people 74
5.6. Summary of age group differences 76
5.7. Summary and discussion 77
6. Experiences of discrimination 79
6.1. Introduction 79
6.1.1. Key findings 79
6.2. Experiences of discrimination 79
6.3. Summary of age group differences 82
6.4. Experiences of age-related discrimination 83
6.5. Summary and discussion 84
7. Age stereotypes 87
7.1. Introduction 87
7.1.1. Key findings 87
7.2. Comparisons between warmth and competence stereotypes 88
7.3. Summary of age group differences 91
7.4. Predictors of stereotypes of people over 70 94
7.4.1. Extent to which other people are perceived to view people over 70 as friendly (warmth stereotype) 94
7.4.2. Extent to which other people are perceived to view people over 70 as capable (competence stereotype) 95
7.4.3. Extent to which other people are perceived to view people over 70 with admiration 95
7.4.4. Extent to which other people are perceived to view people over 70 with pity 96
7.4.5. Extent to which other people are perceived to view people over 70 with envy 96
7.4.6. Extent to which other people are perceived to view people over 70 as moral 97
7.4.7. Summary 97
7.5. Predictors of stereotypes of people under 30 97
7.5.1. Extent to which other people are perceived to view people under 30 as friendly (warmth stereotype) 97
7.5.2. The extent to which other people are perceived to view people under 30 as capable (competence stereotype) 98
7.5.3. Extent to which other people in this country are perceived to view people under 30 with admiration 98
7.5.4. Extent to which other people are perceived to view people under 30 with pity 99
7.5.5. The extent to which other people are perceived to view people under 30 with envy 99
7.5.6. The extent to which other people are perceived to view people under 30 as moral 100
7.5.7. Summary 100
7.6. The effect of social class and ethnicity on stereotype differences 100
7.7. Summary and discussion 102
8. Ageing as a perceived threat 105
8.1. Introduction 105
8.1.1. Key findings 105
8.2. Perception of threat to economic well-being 106
8.2.1. Perceived threat to economic well-being: 2004 and 2006 106
8.2.2. Perceived threat to economic well-being: 2005 and 2008 107
8.3. Material threat 107
8.4. Symbolic threat 108
8.5. Comparison of types of threat 110
8.6. Summary of age group differences 111
8.7. Summary and discussion 112
9. Expressions of age prejudice 113
9.1. Introduction 113
9.1.1. Key findings 113
9.2. Indirect prejudice 114
9.3. Internal and external control of age prejudice 118
9.3.1. Internal motivation to control prejudice 119
9.3.2. External motivation to control prejudice 120
9.4. Direct age prejudice 120
9.4.1. How negative or positive do you feel towards people over 70 and under 30? 120
9.4.2. Comparison between feelings towards people over 70 and under 30 122
9.5. Age and employment relationships 123
9.5.1. Differences between comfort with a potential employment relationship with people over 70 and under 30 years of age 125
9.6. Summary of age group differences 126
9.7. Summary and discussion 127
10. Intergenerational closeness 129
10.1. Introduction 129
10.1.1. Key findings 130
10.2. Perceived intergenerational similarity 130
10.2.1. How much do people over 70 and under 30 have in common? 130
10.2.2. In what way are people aged over 70 and under 30 viewed as different? 131
10.2.3. Perceptions that people aged over 70 and under 30 are all separate individuals 132
10.2.4. Perceptions that people aged over 70 and under 30 are two separate groups with little in common 133
10.2.5. Perceptions that people aged over 70 and under 30 are two separate groups but part of the same community 133
10.2.6. Perceptions that people aged over 70 and under 30 are one common group 134
10.2.7. Summary 134
10.3. Intergenerational contact 135
10.3.1. Contact with people over 70 years of age 135
10.3.2. Contact with people under 30 years of age 135
10.3.3. Age group differences in friendships with people under 30 and over 70 years of age 136
10.4. Summary of age group differences 137
10.5. Summary and discussion 138
11. Regional differences 141
11.1. Introduction 141
11.1.1. Key findings 141
11.2. Statistical note 142
11.3. Age categorisation and identification 143
11.4. Perceived age prejudice 144
11.5. Experiences of age discrimination 144
11.6. Stereotypes of people over 70 145
11.7. Stereotypes of people under 30 145
11.8. Age and perceived threats 145
11.9. Expressions of age prejudice 146
11.10. Intergenerational closeness 147
11.11. Summary and discussion 147
12. Conclusions 149
12.1. Framing the problem 149
12.2. Key findings 150
12.3. Demographic differences 151
12.4. Implications for policy 153
12.4.1. Individuals 154
12.4.2. Families 154
12.4.3. Business 154
12.4.4. Public services 155
12.4.5. Communities 155
12.5. Further steps 156
13. List of appendices 157
References 159