Roman Amarales, A., Bellodi, L. and Williamson, S.
Ageing populations are reshaping democracies worldwide, raising concerns about intergenerational conflict over power and resources. Older generations hold significant political influence due to higher voter turnout and their overrepresentation in political leadership, which often aligns policy priorities with their interests. This dynamic has the potential to fuel age-based prejudice between younger and older generations. Yet, while ageism is increasingly studied, its political roots remain underexplored.
This study examines how political ideology, perceptions of age-based discrimination, and views on political leaders’ age influence ageist attitudes in three ageing democracies: Italy, South Korea, and the United States. We conducted nationally representative surveys (N ≈ 5,500) between December 2023 and January 2024, measuring ageism through direct survey questions and implicit attitude tests (IAT).
Our findings reveal that political factors strongly predict ageism toward older people. Right-wing individuals are less prejudiced toward older generations, reflecting ideological alignment with traditional values and older voters’ interests. Conversely, individuals who feel discriminated against because of their age or perceive older politicians as ineffective are more likely to hold negative attitudes toward older people. However, ageism toward younger people shows weaker associations with these political factors, possibly due to older generations’ political dominance.
By uncovering the political drivers of ageism, this study advances understanding of intergenerational prejudice. It underscores the role of political dynamics—ideology, representation, and discrimination—in shaping ageist attitudes, with important implications for ageing democracies worldwide.
ALONSO ROMÁN AMARALES
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