A study investigated the depiction of older characters in basal reader series from 1975 to 1983. A checklist was used to collect data concerning the treatment of older people in the stories and pictures of the following series: (1) Macmillan and Company (1975), (2) Allyn and Bacon (1978), (3) Scott Foresman (1978), Ginn and Company (1982), and (5)…

A study investigated whether the incidence of ageism has diminished in recent editions of basal readers. Materials examined in the study were the 1971 and 1980 editions of the American Book Company Reading Series, the 1973 and 1980 editions of the Holt Basic Reading System, the 1971 and 1981 editions of the Houghton Mifflin Reading Series, and the…

A study evaluated the ability of older adults to accurately perceive and retain Spanish in their short-term memory. Specifically, the study investigated differences in native language (English) auditory perception, short-term native language auditory memory capacity, monolingual age differences in auditory perception ability in an unknown…

A study compared interpersonal communication motives of three age groups: young adults (age 18 to 25), middle-aged adults (age 35 to 55), and elder adults (age 62 to 82). Three-hundred randomly selected volunteers completed a survey containing the Interpersonal Communication Motives (ICM) scale. Results indicated that all three groups used motives…

A study of language patterning as an indicator of higher cortical process focused on three matched comparison groups: normal pre-middle-aged, normal elderly, and elderly adults with senile dementia Alzheimer's type. In addition to tests of memory, level of cognitive function, and organic deficit, the formal aspects of language were analyzed in…

This study examined basic differences in the prevalence of coresidence with adult children for middle-aged and older divorcees and widows. Data were obtained from the June 1985 Marital and Fertility History Supplement to the Current Population Survey. Subjects consisted of 11,484 married, 3,854 widowed, and 1,994 divorced women with adult…

A study examined the long-term effects of participation in the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) on participants from 20 RSVP projects nationwide. Three rounds of interviews were conducted. In Round 1, 750 volunteers were interviewed: 595 veteran volunteers and 155 new volunteers. In Round 2, 792 volunteers were intereviewed: 175 new…

While utilization of senior centers has increased for the older population as a whole, participation rates have been low among the poor and minority elderly. The impact of the neighborhood senior center (NSC) on the black elderly was investigated in terms of disengagement potential, acceptability to others, commitment to become involved in senior…

Some research suggests the existence of differences in characteristics between older adults who are continuing to earn money through employment and those who have retired from gainful employment. Data on a national random sample of men and women (N=1000) between 68 and 73 years of age were examined to contrast the characteristics of employed and…

DATA ON WHITE AND NONWHITE POVERTY IN URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS ARE SURVEYED AND COMPARED IN THIS ARTICLE. IN SEVERAL SECTIONS POVERTY STATUS AND RACE, AGE, AND METROPOLITAN OR NONMETROPOLITAN RESIDENCE ARE DISCUSSED IN RELATION TO URBAN PROBLEMS, POPULATION TRENDS, PLACE OF RESIDENCE, AND DIFFERENCES IN THE CHARACTERISTICS OF URBAN AND SUBURBAN…

The International Center for Social Gerontology (ICSG) is making available this translation of a timely study by Ernst Noam which describes and compares legislation, policies, and procedures for licensing, supervision, and inspection of homes for the aged in various Western and Eastern European nations. This study is presented to help provide a…

Suggests that Likert ratings and semantic differentials differ in sensitivity to personal experience with the aged, that therapists had more positive beliefs about the elderly than did college students, and that therapist attitudes were not correlated with either proportion of elderly clients seen or desire to work with elderly. (Author/ABB)

Tested whether the aged status in America results in distrust and despair with the social order (anomia). A multivariate regression analysis utilizing data on 354 men aged 40 and older showed no relationship between age or other indicators of life chances or anomia, net of education and/or verbal intelligence. (Author/RC)

Compared the mental health of the elderly living in three different environments: conventional community housing, subsidized housing, and institutions providing medical care. Mental health variables include autonomy and independence. Results indicated institutions do not appear to have better effects for their inhabitants given similar levels of…

Assessed the stereotypes of groups identified by age and either by sex, occupation, or ethnicity in samples of college students and elderly persons. Findings indicate both groups of observers stereotyped young mature adults in terms of a variety of features but stereotyped old people mainly in terms of age. (Author)