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Communication Beliefs About Youth and Old Age in Asia and Canada

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Abstract

Two cross-cultural studies compared beliefs in Asia and Canada about communication in later life. With an expanded version of the Language in Adulthood Questionnaire, respondents rated a young or old adult target on communication skills selected to elicit both negative and positive stereotypes. Chinese, Chinese-Canadian, and Canadian participants were compared in Study 1 while younger and older respondents from South Korea and Canada were contrasted in Study 2. All groups showed negative beliefs about hearing and memory in old age. Positive communication beliefs were also evident for empathy, storytelling and social skills. Participants in Asia showed less stereotyping overall, for both negative and positive beliefs. Significant age interactions in Study 2 reflected positive communication beliefs only for the older participants. In line with recent investigations of the multidimensional impact of Eastern traditions, greater positivity toward older adults was not observed in Asia. This work highlights the importance of assessing both positive and negative age beliefs in cross-cultural comparisons.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. McMaster Center for Gerontological Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4M4

    Ellen Bouchard Ryan & Ann P. Anas

  2. Psychology Department, Kyungpook National University, Taegu, South Korea, 702-701

    Youngsun Jin

  3. Recreation & Leisure Studies, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada, N2L 3G1

    Jessica J. Luh

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  1. Ellen Bouchard Ryan
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  2. Youngsun Jin
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  3. Ann P. Anas
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  4. Jessica J. Luh
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Ryan, E.B., Jin, Y., Anas, A.P. et al. Communication Beliefs About Youth and Old Age in Asia and Canada. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 19, 343–360 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JCCG.0000044688.27282.7b

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JCCG.0000044688.27282.7b

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