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Perceiving Age Discrimination in Response to Intergenerational Inequity
Author(s) -
Garstka Teri A.,
Hummert Mary Lee,
Branscombe Nyla R.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of social issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1540-4560
pISSN - 0022-4537
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-4560.2005.00408.x
Subject(s) - disadvantage , age discrimination , privilege (computing) , middle age , young adult , psychology , age groups , attribution , inequality , demography , social psychology , developmental psychology , political science , sociology , mathematical analysis , mathematics , law
Young (N= 57), middle‐aged (N= 57), and older adults (N= 47) were presented with an editorial that argued in favor of their age group's economic interests (e.g., their privilege was fair; their disadvantage was unfair) or against their age group's economic interests (e.g., their privilege was unfair; their disadvantage was fair). Participants completed measures of perceived age discrimination, attributions for outcomes, and support for age‐based spending. Unfavorable intergenerational comparisons elicited higher perceived age discrimination in middle‐aged adults, and more support among all age groups for funding to middle‐aged adults compared to favorable comparisons. Young and older adults reported more age discrimination than middle‐aged adults regardless of comparison type. Age group status consequences for responses to the intergenerational conflict debate are discussed.