Development and Feasibility of a Process Based Intervention to Decrease Internalized Ageism

Abstract

A lifetime of exposure to ageism may be internalized in older adults, and these ageist beliefs that are directed inwards can have severe consequences. However, research on reducing internalized ageism is scarce. To address this, a six-week process-based online intervention to reduce internalized ageism was designed and implemented to assess its feasibility. The intervention utilized a process-based therapy approach targeting psychological, behavioral, and physiological pathways through which internalized ageism negatively impacts health, as specified by stereotype embodiment theory. Intervention components included education, acceptance and commitment therapy, and attributional retraining. A total of 81 participants participated in the feasibility study. Most participants rated each session and the overall program as very useful in surveys after each session (average program rating of 4.54/5 in terms of usefulness). Participants also attributed a wide range of novel behaviors to this intervention and stated that they felt it changed their perspectives on ageism and/or internalized ageism. Altogether, this study provides a promising foundation from which to advance research on interventions that address internalized ageism – a problem that has severe consequences on the health and well-being of growing numbers of older adults globally.

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