Reducing Ageism and Ableism with Brief Videos Providing Education about Aging and Disabilities and Exposure to Positive Intergenerational Contact.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Older adults living with a disability (LWD) face both ageism and ableism, but there are few interventions to address this significant and growing social problem.

Research design and methods: Drawing on the PEACE (Positive Education about Aging and Contact Experiences) Model, three online studies involved participants randomly assigned to watch four brief online videos providing education about aging and disability and exposure to positive contact between younger adults and older adults/older adults LWD (experimental condition) or videos about interior design (control condition). Studies 1 (community sample) and 2 (university sample) included an immediate post-test whereas Study 3 (2 university samples) additionally included a pre-test and delayed post-test.

Results: Experimental condition (vs. control) participants reported greater agreement with older adults LWD as contributors to society (immediate post-test in Studies 1 and 2; immediate and delayed post-test in Study 3), lesser (greater) endorsement of negative (positive) stereotypes of older adults and older adults LWD, lesser agreement with older adults LWD as burdensome, lesser intergenerational tension with older adults (immediate post-test in Study 2; immediate and delayed post-test in Study 3), and greater openness to careers working with older adults and older adults LWD (immediate and delayed post-test in Study 3).

Discussion and implications: Brief online interventions that involve education about aging and disabilities as well as exposure to positive intergenerational contact can be an effective means of reducing ableism and ageism toward older adults and older adults LWD.