Traditional stereotypes and attitudes about the elderly are of interest to both researchers and health care providers. Misconceptions about the elderly and the sources of these misconceptions were examined in undergraduates (N=150) and in elderly subjects (N=50). Subjects completed the Miller-Dodder revision of Palmore's Facts on Aging Quiz One…

Children today do not have sufficient association with the elderly to form accurate impressions of them. Much children's information is provided through television and books which present stereotyped images of the elderly as inactive, lonely, nonproductive, crabby, and physically decrepit. To determine whether intermediate grade students respond…

Previous research suggests that one basis for age discrimination involves stereotypes about older people. Situational variables, however, may influence the extent to which these stereotypes affect decisions in employment. One situational variable, the age composition of the applicant pool, was varied to determine the degree to which age bias in…

This survey of academic public service librarians shows a decline in negative stereotypical perceptions of older adults from earlier studies. However, this may not necessarily indicate a desire to offer services to the elderly, and the factor of self-selection may be present with regard to librarians' involvement with such services. (Author/EM)

Uses path analysis and data from 2,829 Washington State residents aged 55 and over to study effects of rural or urban residence on social integration/loneliness. Finds rural residents not more highly integrated into social networks than urban counterparts and not lonelier. Discusses implications for existing social relations stereotypes of the…

Discovers a very stereotypical representation of the elderly in marriage and family textbooks. Reveals that the aged receive limited amounts of coverage, often are often separated from other family issues and events, and generally are associated with specific "elderly" topics in these texts. (MJP)