Ageism in Belgium and Burundi: A comparative analysis

[en] Background: Recent cross-cultural comparisons between Asian and Western cultures have shown that ageism arises more from the lack of availability of social and economic resources for older adults than from the culture itself. We tested this assumption by conducting a survey among people living in a least-developed country compared with a developed country. Methods: Twenty-seven Belgians living in Belgium, 29 Burundians living in Belgium and 32 Burundians living in Burundi were included in this study. Their attitudes toward older adults were assessed using several self-reported measures. Results: Statistical analyses confirmed that older people are more negatively perceived by Burundians living in Burundi than by Burundians and Belgians living in Belgium, whose attitudes did not differ from each other. Conclusion: Consistent with our hypothesis, our results suggest that the level of development of a country and more particularly the lack of government spending on older people (pension and healthcare systems) may contribute to their younger counterparts perceiving them more negatively.

Disciplines :

Sociology & social sciences

Author, co-author :

Marquet, Manon ; Université de Liège > Département de Psychologie > Psychologie de la sénescence et du vieillissement

Missotten, Pierre ; Université de Liège > Département de Psychologie > Psychologie de la sénescence et du vieillissement

Schroyen, Sarah ; Université de Liège > Département de Psychologie > Psychologie de la sénescence et du vieillissement

Nindaba, Desiderate

Adam, Stéphane ; Université de Liège > Département de Psychologie > Psychologie de la sénescence et du vieillissement

Language :

English

Title :

Ageism in Belgium and Burundi: A comparative analysis

Publication date :

24 August 2016

Journal title :

Clinical Interventions in Aging

ISSN :

1176-9092

eISSN :

1178-1998

Publisher :

Dove Medical Press Ltd, New Zealand

Volume :

Pages :

1129-1139

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 28 May 2016

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