TY - JOUR
T1 - Why do I dread looking old?
T2 - A test of social identity theory, terror management theory, and the double standard of aging
AU - Chonody, Jill M.
AU - Teater, Barbra
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Taylor & Francis.
PY - 2016/3/3
Y1 - 2016/3/3
N2 - ABSTRACT: Outward appearance is one of the means by which age is determined, and fear of looking old may stem from fears about social identity and death. This study explored how social identity theory and terror management theory may help to explain the dread of looking old. University students from the United States, England, and Australia (N = 1,042) completed a questionnaire regarding their attitudes about aging and older adults. Results indicated that sex, age, beliefs about personal aging, and death anxiety explained 30.4% of the variance for participants’ dread of looking old. Theoretical hypotheses were supported by our findings.
AB - ABSTRACT: Outward appearance is one of the means by which age is determined, and fear of looking old may stem from fears about social identity and death. This study explored how social identity theory and terror management theory may help to explain the dread of looking old. University students from the United States, England, and Australia (N = 1,042) completed a questionnaire regarding their attitudes about aging and older adults. Results indicated that sex, age, beliefs about personal aging, and death anxiety explained 30.4% of the variance for participants’ dread of looking old. Theoretical hypotheses were supported by our findings.
KW - Ageism
KW - death anxiety
KW - fear of aging
KW - looking old
KW - sexism
KW - social identity theory
KW - terror management theory
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84952643524&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/08952841.2014.950533
DO - 10.1080/08952841.2014.950533
M3 - Article
C2 - 26716474
AN - SCOPUS:84952643524
SN - 0895-2841
VL - 28
SP - 112
EP - 126
JO - Journal of Women and Aging
JF - Journal of Women and Aging
IS - 2
ER -