Ageism and attitudes towards older people in the field of social work. A systematic review of operational definitions

Abstract

Combating ageism is a challenge for social workers, given that social work is directly intertwined with social justice. The conceptual definition of ageism varies due to different measurements and lack of definition consensus. The purpose of our study is the systematic review of operational definitions of ageism, which have been used by empirical research on ageism in the field of social work. Scopus, Pub Med, Taylor and Francis, and Springer were searched from 2000 to 2020. Inclusion- exclusion criteria were established concerning timespan, language, study type, and study focus. Finally, twelve peer review articles were included in the final review. Results suggest that the more prevalent forms of the operational definition of ageism include cognitive, other-directed, explicit negative, or positive components as well behavioural other-directed, explicit negative, or positive components. Our review reveals an absence of implicit and self-directed components. The findings highlight the need for an approach that covers all the dimensions of ageism. The exact dimension and manifestation of ageism in the various geriatric contexts of social work are necessary. Implications for social work research and practice are discussed.

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