U.S. Stereotypes of Older Adults Living With Disabilities: How Perceptions Vary Based on Gender, Disability, and Older Age

U.S. Stereotypes of Older Adults Living With Disabilities: How Perceptions Vary Based on Gender, Disability, and Older Age | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 12 June 2025 V1 Latest version Share on U.S. Stereotypes of Older Adults Living With Disabilities: How Perceptions Vary Based on Gender, Disability, and Older Age Authors : Caitlin Monahan 0000-0001-6921-5008 [email protected] , Ashley Lytle , Ashley Araiza , and Sheri Levy 0000-0002-7056-179X Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174977144.46884465/v1 Published Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy Version of record Peer review timeline 271 views 142 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Individuals are stereotyped based on their perceived identities and there are rising concerns about ableism, ageism, and sexism in the United States. Cultural stereotypes of older adults (including older women and men) living with a disability (LWD) are understudied despite their negative stigmatizations and consequences in different contexts such as in healthcare and employment. In this study, we identified and assessed these stereotypes. Students from three U.S. universities ( N = 401) listed their understanding of the stereotypes of older adults LWD, older men LWD, older women LWD, older men, older women, older adults, persons LWD, men, and women. Data were analyzed using two established methodologies used in stereotyping research. Results revealed that stereotypes of older adults LWD and persons LWD contained shared elements, as the top stereotypes listed for both groups were negative and many overlapped (burdensome, dependent, devalued, “handicapped”, mean, physically slow, sad, unintelligent, unproductive, weak). Negative stereotypes of older adults LWD also included long-standing stereotypes listed of older adults (deteriorating, sick, mean). Gendered stereotypes also emerged for older men (financially stable, leader) and older women (nice) but stereotypes of older men LWD and older women LWD were more closely related to those of disability than of gender. Results also revealed unique stereotypes (e.g., persons LWD as abnormal). Results can help inform much-needed theoretical frameworks and prejudice reduction strategies aimed at improving attitudes toward diverse groups of older adults who may be facing poor health and discrimination due to experiences of ageism, sexism, and/or ableism. Supplementary Material File (asap_submission.docx) Download 81.70 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 12 June 2025 Peer review timeline Published Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy Version of Record 15 Dec 2025 Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords ableism ageism sexism stereotypes Authors Affiliations Caitlin Monahan 0000-0001-6921-5008 [email protected] Stony Brook University View all articles by this author Ashley Lytle Stevens Institute of Technology View all articles by this author Ashley Araiza Angelo State University View all articles by this author Sheri Levy 0000-0002-7056-179X Stony Brook University View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 271 views 142 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Caitlin Monahan, Ashley Lytle, Ashley Araiza, et al. U.S. Stereotypes of Older Adults Living With Disabilities: How Perceptions Vary Based on Gender, Disability, and Older Age. Authorea . 12 June 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174977144.46884465/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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