Macro- and Micro-Level Predictors of Age Categorization: Results from the European Social Survey

European Journal of Ageing, 2014, 11(1), 5-18

Posted: 17 Mar 2014

See all articles by Liat Ayalon

Liat Ayalon

Bar-Ilan University - Faculty of Social Sciences

Israel Issi Doron

University of Haifa - Department of Gerontology

Ehud Bodner

Bar-Ilan University - Interdisciplinary Department of Social Studies

Noit Inbar

University of Haifa

Date Written: March 15, 2014

Abstract

This study evaluated macro- and micro-level variables associated with individuals’ perception of the ending of youth, the beginning of old age, and the length of the middle age period. The European Social Survey is a biennial multi-country, cross-sectional survey. Our analysis is based on the fourth wave, which included a rotating module on ageism. The source sample consisted of 28 countries and a total of 54,988 respondents. Whereas macro-level variability accounted for 14% of the variance associated with the perception of the ending of youth, only 5.7% of the variance associated with the perception of the beginning of old age was accounted for by macro-level variability. Almost 10% of the variance associated with the perception of the middle age period was associated with macro-level variability. Different patterns of macro- and micro-level correlates emerged for the ending of youth, beginning of old age, and the period of middle age. Overall, results demonstrate that individual differences in the perception of the ending of youth, the beginning of old age, and the length of the middle age period are more pronounced than contextual differences. Results also suggest that individuals’ mental maps regarding the timing of these events are not necessarily concordant.

Keywords: Agism, Ageism, Age Discrimination, Age Categorization, European Social Survey

JEL Classification: J14

Suggested Citation

Ayalon, Liat and Doron, Israel and Bodner, Ehud and Inbar, Noit, Macro- and Micro-Level Predictors of Age Categorization: Results from the European Social Survey (March 15, 2014). European Journal of Ageing, 2014, 11(1), 5-18, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2409530

Liat Ayalon

Bar-Ilan University - Faculty of Social Sciences ( email )

Ramat-Gan, 52900
Israel

Israel Doron (Contact Author)

University of Haifa - Department of Gerontology ( email )

Haifa 31905
Israel
972-4-8249954 (Phone)
972-4-8249946 (Fax)

Ehud Bodner

Bar-Ilan University - Interdisciplinary Department of Social Studies ( email )

Ramat Gan, 52900
Israel

Noit Inbar

University of Haifa ( email )

Mount Carmel
Haifa, 31905
Israel

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