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Relations between attachment styles, ageism and quality of life in late life

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 June 2010

Ehud Bodner  and
Sara Cohen-Fridel
Ehud Bodner*
Affiliation:
The Interdisciplinary Department of Social Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
Sara Cohen-Fridel
Affiliation:
The Interdisciplinary Department of Social Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel School of Education, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Ehud Bodner, Interdisciplinary Department of Social Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel. Phone: +972 3 5318276; Fax: +972 35353329. Email: bodnere@mail.biu.ac.il.
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Abstract

Background: This study is the first to explore the relations between attachment styles, ageism, and quality of life (QoL) among elderly people. The attachment theory describes how human beings relate to each other, according to their attachment style. Previous studies have examined the connection between attachment styles and prejudice toward distinctive social groups and minorities. Ageism as a form of prejudice is a way of relating negatively to people because they are old. QoL among the elderly was found to be associated with negative age-perceptions. It was therefore hypothesized that QoL, attachments styles, and demographic characteristics can explain ageism among the elderly.

Methods: Four questionnaires were administered: Fraboni Scale of Ageism (FSA), which comprises four scales (separation, affective, stereotype, and intergeneration); Experiences in Close Relationships Scale, which measures four attachment styles (secure, dismissive, fearful, and preoccupied); SF-36 health status inventory (eight scales); and sociodemographic questions. Ninety-four elderly men and women aged 64–85 years living in the community completed the questionnaires.

Results: MANCOVAS indicated that securely attached individuals score higher on separation than fearfully attached individuals, and that securely and dismissively attached individuals score higher than fearful and preoccupied individuals on seven QoL scales. Multiple regression analyses showed that attachment styles, age, gender, and some QoL scales contribute to the explained variance of ageism.

Conclusions: Secure attachment in late life seems to be related to less ageism and a better QoL. The enhancement of a secure attachment base in elderly people may assist in moderating ageism and improving older people's QoL.

Keywords

elderly peopleintergroup -biassecure attachmentlate lifestereotypesdiscriminationself-ageismquality of life
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 22 , Special Issue 8: Focus on prevention in psychogeriatrics , December 2010 , pp. 1353 - 1361
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2010

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