Negative attitudes toward the majority and perceived hostile and modern prejudices: Focus on older adults and people with disabilities

Abstract

With the growing emphasis on diversity in recent years, we need to form a society wherein older adults and people with disabilities can play active roles together with younger and able-bodied people. However, hostile and modern prejudices against older adults and people with disabilities have inhibited their participation in society. This study examined the association between perceived prejudices against older adults and people with disabilities and their attitudes toward younger and able-bodied people. We administered an online survey to 503 older adults (aged 65–97, M = 74.08 years; 267 women) and 518 people with disabilities (aged 18–64, M = 40.25 years; 180 women). The results showed that older adults (people with disabilities) with more perceived hostile and modern prejudices had more negative attitudes toward younger (able-bodied) people.