Liat Ayalon

Bar Ilan University | BIU · School of Social Work

Subjective views of aging (VoA) play a crucial role in shaping individuals’ physical, mental, and overall well-being. While past research has primarily focused on individual perspectives, recent literature suggests the development of VoA within interpersonal relationships. This study introduces a new scale, the Views of Couple Joint Aging (VoCJA),...

This study explored the effectiveness of a 90-minute workshop in reducing ageism and fostering social activism among 318 Israeli teenagers (11-15 years old, 73.4% female). The workshop aimed to provide accurate information, counter-stereotypes, and peer discussion through activities like talks, games, videos, and meme creation to promote a more inc...

The International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA) has been steadfast in its commitment towards advancing human rights of older persons since the release of its 2011 White Paper which expanded the focus of the Capacity Task Force to prioritize human rights. Through partnerships with the World Psychiatric Association Section Old Age Psychiatry (WPA...

Ageism is defined as prejudice, discrimination, and stereotypes towards people because of their age. Ageism can be directed towards individuals of all ages and be either positive or negative. Ageism can operate at the institutional level directed via legal and social policies, at the meso level as evident in interpersonal relations and at the micro...

Objectives 1. Highlight the Collaborative Efforts of Key International Organizations: Illustrate the critical role of the International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA), World Psychiatric Association (WPA), and other organizations in working with UN bodies to advance the human rights of older people. 2. Emphasize the Importance of Increased Engage...

Our world is rapidly aging, with medical and public health advancements extending lifespans without necessarily enhancing the quality of those additional years. Individuals in their later years aspire to preserve dignity, maintain autonomy and independence, foster social inclusion, uphold justice and equality, be respected for their identity, and p...

Importance Test accuracy studies often use small datasets to simultaneously select an optimal cutoff score that maximizes test accuracy and generate accuracy estimates. Objective To evaluate the degree to which using data-driven methods to simultaneously select an optimal Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) cutoff score and estimate accuracy yi...

Background and objectives Gendered ageism refers to the intersectionality of age and gender bias and discrimination. It is widely prevalent and leads to inequality, injustice, oppression, exploitation and disempowerment of older women. In this study, we explore the impacts of gendered ageism on three areas of older women’s lives in three African co...

The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of a short educational intervention to reduce ageism and enhance social activism among adolescents. The study involved a 90-min workshop for 318 Israeli adolescents (aged 11 to 15, 73.9% females). Familiarity with the concept “ageism” and attitudes toward older persons were assessed before and af...

This content-based research examines a) how older-age-based environmental movements position and present themselves in relation to older and younger generations, and b) how they frame issues of capability, responsibility, and social justice within intergenerational dynamics. Based on qualitative content research of the “About Us” webpage and the vi...

This chapter delves into the reciprocal connections between climate change and the mental well-being of older individuals. The initial section underscores the adverse effects of climate change on the mental health of older adults. Subsequently, I explore how preexisting mental health conditions in older individuals can influence efforts to adapt to...

Administration mode of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) may influence responses. We assessed if Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale – Depression subscale (HADS-D) item responses and scores were associated with administration mode. We compared (1) self...

The present study examined whether people of different age groups respond differently to a true versus fake consensus statement concerning climate change. In total, 309 participants were randomly exposed to a true consensus statement about climate change and 311 were exposed to a false statement. Subsequently, respondents were asked to respond to i...

The prevailing cultural emphasis on women’s attractiveness being tied to youth raises questions about how women perceive their appearance in the second half of life. The current qualitative study addresses this issue by posing two questions: how do women over fifty perceive and describe changes in their appearance? And how do they cope with these c...

Objective In this research, we examine perceptions of couple relationships and intimacy among older couples when one partner is diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), based on ambiguous loss theory. Background Many studies have examined couples with one partner affected by dementia, yet few have explored intimacy when the affected partner...

Learning objectives:At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to: • - Integrate a human rights and dignity-based strategies into daily clinical care for older persons with mental health conditions • - Identify the effects of intersections of ageism, ableism, mentalism and elder abuse on the care provided to older persons with mental h...

In 2020 there were 727 million persons aged 65 years or over in the world and this number is expected to reach over 1.5 billion in 2050. Of these, 20% suffer of a mental health condition and 60% live in low- and middle-income countries where barriers (stigma, poor access to social and health care systems) present issues even during stable times. A...

This qualitative study explored the relationship between creativity, time, age, and the literary world among 16 award‐winning Israeli writers in the second half of their lives. Based on data collected through in‐depth interviews with the participants, the findings indicate that the writers' creativity in the second half of life was linked to Preser...

Past research has stressed the role of age and generation in climate change discourse, worries, and willingness to act. Therefore, the present paper aimed to examine the role of chronological age (as an arbitrary factor, which represents ageism) in lay people’s climate change-related attitudes, feelings, and behavioral intentions. Two experiments i...

This qualitative study explores the role of personal and historical time in the power dynamics that women encounter in the Israeli film industry. Based on a close thematic analysis of 26 interviews with women film directors in the film “In the Director’s Chair Sits a Woman” (2020), the findings suggest that women in the Israeli film industry contin...

Background and objectives: Compassion is described as an affective experience arising from witnessing the undeserved suffering of another that propels one to provide protection and cooperation. Climate change is often associated with "underserved suffering", especially of younger and future generations. Consequently, contemporary climate discourse...

Climate change impacts are characterized by their differential treatment of diverse age groups and generations. Although both the old and the young are particularly vulnerable to climate change, it is the younger and unborn generations that will suffer the longest. Consequently, the youth are perceived as leaders of the climate movement. This study...

The call for climate action has attracted global support, especially among youth. Over time, climate discourse has turned increasingly hostile toward both younger and older generations, potentially engendering intergenerational conflict when intergenerational cooperation is most needed. Using a purposive sampling method, we selected a sample of 50...

The present study relied on 15 dyads of adult children and their older parent to better understand intergenerational family relations from a life course perspective. Interviews were analyzed relying on qualitative thematic analysis, identifying similarities and differences within and between interviews and dyads. Our analysis resulted in three majo...

The voices of older people living in residential care are often excluded from news articles about residential care, and this exclusion was especially apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study is to identify and understand the barriers which may be obstructing the news media participation of older residents. Semi-structured interv...

In a neoliberal society that sanctifies youth, the devaluation that accompanies old age among women joins hands with gendered power relations to produce intersectional oppression. Accordingly, the available possibilities for challenging this intersection in fantasy films carry a particular interest from a feminist perspective. This qualitative stud...

Distinctiveness theory suggests that numeric rarity is correlated with stronger homophily. In this paper, we examine this theory by studying gender homophily in social networks of older adults. We document subjective social networks in multiple long term care settings for older adults over several time points. Homophily for each gender is estimated...

This study examined the association of negative ageist prescriptive expectations regarding older people with worries about climate change and willingness to act. An online survey was completed by 250 Australians over the age 18. Higher levels of ageism (e.g., negative prescriptive views towards older people) were associated with fears about the imp...

Background and Objectives Ideals of masculinity have gradually evolved from dominant traits of “hegemonic masculinity” to a more nurturing concept of “caring masculinity” that recognises the caregiving roles of men. In this article, we explore the performance of caring masculinities among older men in later life. We do this specifically in the Indi...

The present viewpoint examines the manifestation of ageism, defined as stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination towards people because of their age, in the Western Pacific region. Research is still equivocal concerning the nature of ageism in the Western Pacific region, especially in East and South-East Asia (e.g., Eastern countries). There has be...

Interviews reveal that many health professionals working with older adults are uncomfortable discussing sexual issues with those under their care. Nevertheless, to date, discomfort in discussing sexual issues with older adults has not been empirically investigated. To facilitate exploration of this subject, the current study evaluated the psychomet...

This chapter examines the concept of ageism, which represents prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination towards people because of their age, against the cognitive concept of views of aging, which represents thoughts regarding older people and the aging process. As this chapter is contextualized within the larger context of views of aging, the focu...

This study examined three social campaigns for the eradication of ageism that were undertaken in Israel during the COVID‐19 pandemic (April, 2020–May, 2021). The documentation and analysis of the campaigns were undertaken via the lens of the Theory of Change and Five Key Principles for social campaigns: planning strategically, communicating effecti...

Background and Objectives The digital world offers opportunities for sex and love and also reflects societal stereotypes regarding sex and love among older adults. The aim of the current review is to look at the ways older adults use digital media for sex and love and also at digital media’s representations of older adults. Research Design and Met...

There has been an increase in research on sexual activity in later life, yet far less is known about the actual perceptions and experiences of older adults who refrain from sexual activity. In the current study, a thematic analysis was conducted to identify patterns in semi-structured interviews with 47 older adults, aged 60-91. The analysis yielde...

Background: Both rapid technological changes and (self-)ageism are pervasive challenges of the 21st century, potentially impacting older adults' everyday functioning, health, and well-being. This systematic literature review aimed to synthesize scholarly evidence to determine the associations between everyday information and communication technolo...

The MeToo movement exposed distinct inequalities between men and women on and offscreen. It shed light on the latent politics of power relations between the sexes and tremendously influenced various aspects of Israeli social life. Nevertheless, the question, addressed in this study, of how senior male film directors perceive the change in the gende...

Introduction to the Special issue "Aging Masculinities: Social Constructions and Cultural Representations", Journal of Aging Studies (in press)

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the potential contribution of a membership in an online family community to older adults' overall well-being. Design/methodology/approach A total of 427 respondents over the age of 64 participated in the study ( M = 74.55, SD = 7.13), answering a survey. To test the contributing of belonging to family online com...

This study examined the associations between nursing aides’ mentalization, expressed emotion, and observed sensitivity towards their residents with dementia. The study also explored whether nursing aides’ mentalization and expressed emotion are relational constructs that vary with residents’ characteristics and behavior. To assess mentalization and...

This paper examined how the use of literary works in bibliotherapy groups for older men promotes discourse on aging and masculinity. Two groups of men from two different CCRCs in Israel participated in the study. Each group underwent 10 bibliotherapy sessions. Following reading aloud of literary works on aging, the participants were invited to shar...

The stereotypical view of creativity as an emblem of youth, and old age as a signifier of decline can hold grave consequences for filmmakers in the second half of life, as this misconception can result in negative attitudes, a decline in media coverage, and less funding for film production. Thus, ageing male film directors might face a collisional...

In a growing global trend, individuals are migrating to other countries to live with and care for older adults with dementia. Although this trend addresses the geriatric workforce shortage, workers and older adults often experience distress. In a pilot study in Israel, six migrant care workers participated in a six-week group intervention in which...

The evidence base connecting planetary and human health is growing, but thus far the research community has primarily focused on the physical health implications. This Voices asks: how does environmental degradation affect mental health, and what are the emerging needs and research priorities?

One of the intriguing issues connected to power relations in the world of cinema that has yet to be adequately explored is what has happened over the years concerning the dominance and privilege of masculinity as signifying preferred social status. This qualitative study explores this subject based on transcribed semi-structured interviews with 13...

Relying on the age segregation theory (limited contact between age groups), this study examined the temporal reciprocal associations between age integration—the inclusion of older and younger people in one’s personal network—and one's self-perceptions of aging (SPA). Data came from the 2014 and 2017 waves of the German Ageing Survey and focused on...

Research of the world of cinema often deals with the manner in which movies replicate the social balance of power, creating a symbolic order based on an essentially masculine world-view that puts the man at its center. The price women pay for this phallocentric approach – their persistent objectification in cinema, and the very small number of fema...

Background and Objectives In view of the inherited temporal dimension of climate change, this study aims to highlight diverse intergenerational effects and coping strategies by examining the state of literature on older people and intergenerational relations in the context of climate change Research Design and Methods A scoping review of peer-revi...

Intergenerational contact for technology learning frequently transpires in various daily settings of older adults’ lives. However, older adults often hold negative age-based self-stereotype that they are less capable in technology use. Thus, they may experience age-based stereotype threats in such situations, which further induce technophobia. Prev...

Research on migrant home care workers has focused mainly on working conditions in the recipient countries and on the relationships between care recipients and their family members. However, because migrant care workers often are transnational, going back and forth between countries, some return to their home country, bringing with them newly acquir...

Objectives This study examined the emotional availability of nursing aide-resident with dementia dyads in a long-term care-facility. Emotional availability refers to the nursing aide’s sensitivity toward the resident, structuring their interactions in a non-intrusive and non-hostile manner and the resident’s responsiveness to and involvement of the...

Compared with gains, losses have received a substantial amount of research and public attention. The present study aims to shed light on the positive gains associated with older age from the perspective of older women. Five focus groups with 19 Israeli women over the age of 54 were conducted. Trailers of three different films were used to stimulate...

Although much has been written to date on gender equality, on personal liberty within the family, and on the burden of family caregivers of spouses, the manner in which these different aspects intersect and impact each other has gone largely unexamined. How do relationships of power and dependency interact? How do they affect the pursuit of happine...

Worries associated with COVID-19 health consequences are well-justified. They may motivate people to take safety precautions, but may hinder if they become too intense. Current research examined mainly age and gender as potentially associated with worries. This study instead, focuses on self-perceptions of ageing (SPA) and perceived age discriminat...

The present research aims to examine the effects of protective measures due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) within long-term care (LTC) settings on the residents and their family members. Open-ended qualitative interviews were conducted with 14 family members of older adults who resided in LTC settings during the first wave of the pandemic in...

Emigration is one of the sorest problems in Lithuania. Emigrants from Lithuania most often fill the sector of unskilled labour in the target countries, one of which is elder care. Financial factors are considered the main motivation for emigration; however, migration is a complex phenomenon and requires a more nuanced investigation. The aim of this...

This is a Living report, “wiki-style”, addressing 68 questions on characteristics of Long-Term Care (LTC) systems, impacts of COVID-19 on LTC, measures adopted to mitigate these impacts and new reforms countries are adopting to address structural problems in LTC systems and to improved preparedness for future events. It is compiled and updated volu...

Objectives The present study aims to examine possible pathways that potentially account for the relationship between perceived age discrimination in healthcare settings (as one form of ageism) and health outcomes. Methods We relied on 1570 complete surveys, which constitute a representative national sample of adults aged 50 and above in Israel. R...

This study examined reasons for return migration among Lithuanian migrant home care workers who provided care to older adults abroad. In total, 13 interviews were conducted with a diverse sample of returnees. Using constant comparison, three major themes were identified. The first theme described the undocumented nature of the job as a reason to re...

Objectives We examined differences across three groups in Israel to test the double jeopardy versus the intersection escape hypotheses-which evaluate whether being older and belonging to an underrepresented group serves as a double burden, exposing older minorities to higher levels of perceived ageism or on the contrary, older age serves as a prote...

Objectives: Sharing similar negative age-stereotypes (e.g., outdated, unfashionable), older adults and older technologies are stereotypically associated with each other. This also was found to be internalized by older adults. Recent research has suggested that internalized negative age-stereotypes may be one of the reasons for technophobia among o...

Objectives: Depression is a major health concern for both individuals and societies. Hence, understanding the risk factors for depression is of importance. As individuals grow older, the way in which they perceive the aging process may have a significant influence on their physical and mental health. More negative perceptions of aging could put ind...

The major task of this closing chapter is to strive for reconciliation between the very divergent positions and perspectives on successful ageing that have been outlined in this book. The building blocks enabling at least partial reconciliation are the emphasis of the need for pluralism in conceptual reasoning on the notion of successful ageing; th...

In this chapter the authors argue that physical, spatial, and technological environments are relevant to successful ageing both in a conceptual and in a practical sense. Conceptually, efforts towards ageing successfully cannot be discussed separately from the various external forces that serve as constraining or enhancing influences in this respect...

Biological ageing is a progressive decline in physiological functionality, and an increase in the chances of chronic diseases and death. Ageing of the body sets in and happens progressively, exponentially and intrinsically in the period beyond the naturally evolved essential lifespan of a species. Ageing science has searched for the factors securin...

Individual strategies are necessary for successful ageing. Three of the models discussed in the previous chapter—the pragmatic, hedonic, and eudaimonic models—put particular emphasis on individuals’ striving to reach their desired endpoints: to be fit, autonomous and engaged; to be happy; or to be wise, respectively. Nevertheless, the primary respo...

The concept of successful ageing has instigated the imagination of laypeople, policy stakeholders, and researchers because it offers an alternative to gloomy stereotypes of decline, disability, and dependence commonly associated with old age. Successful ageing proposes an opportunity to transition smoothly from middle-life into old age, with none o...

Social bonds and care are important factors for successful ageing. Most people do not grow old in isolation, but together with other people, supporting them and being supported by them. While ageing, people are embedded into a social network formed by family, friends, and neighbours. These social bonds are a necessary precondition for successful se...

Social inequality is one of the major challenges for successful ageing, and the welfare state may alleviate some of the unjust and unfair allocations of resources within a population. Socio-economic differences between individuals permeate life courses from conception to death. The concept of ‘inequality’ points to vertical differences between indi...

The authors propose a taxonomy of successful ageing conceptions organized according to five selected models of successful ageing used in ageing research. The models are rooted—explicitly or implicitly—in philosophical traditions describing a good life. The dominant model in gerontological research, Rowe and Kahn’s model of successful ageing, follow...

The notion of successful ageing has been one of the most successful but also one of the most controversial concepts of ageing research over the last 60 years. Attempts to uncover the secret of successful ageing have often resembled something like a quest for the Golden Fleece. And that quest continues within contemporary gerontology—so far with no...

Objectives: To examine the factors associated with older adults' perceptions of ageism in society during the COVID-19 outbreak, in particular the portrayal of older people as a burden and as vulnerable. Methods: Data are based on a nationally-representative survey of adults aged 50+ in Israel, conducted during the COVID-19 outbreak (N=888). Regress...

Objectives: To examine the factors associated with older adults' perceptions of ageism in society during the COVID-19 outbreak, in particular the portrayal of older people as a burden and as vulnerable. Methods: Data are based on a nationally-representative survey of adults aged 50+ in Israel, conducted during the COVID-19 outbreak (N=888). Regr...

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored how everyday information and communication technology (EICT), such as online banking, e-shopping, or e-mail, are essential for individuals of all ages to maintain activity engagement, health, and well-being. Yet, older adults are often stereotypically portrayed as incapable, technophobic, or unwilling to engage...

Background and objectives: Media discourses have the power to construct and perpetuate positive and negative aging images and influence public and individuals' attitudes. This study aims to critically examine the media portrayal of older persons' everyday information and communication technology (EICT) usage during the first and second wave of the...

The present research examines the effects of protective measures due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic within long-term care (LTC) settings on residents and their family members. Open-ended qualitative interviews were conducted with 14 family members of older adults who resided in LTC settings during the first wave of the pandemic...

Background and Objectives In the fall of 2020, it became clear that the initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine would be limited, and a priority order would be necessary. This paper examines the perceptions of old age in the context of establishing a priority order for the COVID-19 vaccine from the perspective of online newspaper commenters. Two rese...

This paper discusses the right to work as a basic human right that should be granted unrelated to chronological age, health or mental health status and disability including declining cognitive functioning. The benefits of continued employment are both at the individual level and at the organizational and societal levels. Nonetheless, there are mult...

The pandemic has put the spotlight on older people and on the topic of ageism. In early 2021, a call was made for input into the Thematic Report on Ageism and Discrimination to inform the United Nations Independent Expert on the Rights of Older Persons' forthcoming report to the 48th session of the Human Rights Council. The aim of this paper is to...

Although older persons wish to age at home, many older persons with mental health conditions and psychosocial disability (MHC-PSD) spend the last few years of their life in residential facilities. This paper will examine the impact of ageism and human rights violations manifested in environmental design, specifically regarding social isolation, lon...

There is increasing emphasis in research and at the level of international human rights bodies such as the United Nations on the gendered contours of age-based disadvantage and discrimination, and the cumulative effects of gender inequalities over the life-course on outcomes in later life. However, to date, the role of mental health in shaping the...

Climate change threatens the basic prerequisites for wellbeing, including clean air and water, food supply and the adequacy and security of shelter. Climate change is a powerful and ongoing presence in the lives of older persons, both creating and exacerbating vulnerabilities. The absence of a legally binding international instrument specifically p...

Worries associated with COVID-19 health consequences are well-justified. They may motivate people to take safety precautions, but may hinder if they become too intense. Current research has examined mainly age and gender as potential correlates associated with worries. This study instead, is focused on self-perceptions of aging (SPA) and perceived...

We explore barriers to enjoyment of human rights to sexuality of persons with dementia and remedies for addressing these. Enjoyment of sexuality is contingent upon actualisation of rights to dignity, autonomy, respect for will and preferences, abuse safeguarding and equitable access to highest standards of sexual health. Persons with dementia livin...

Objectives: Older adults’ greater susceptibility to mortality from COVID-19 may have meaningful psychological implications not only for them, but also for their children. In this study, we focused on daughters of older women and examined the intergenerational relationships as a correlate of daughters’ anxiety, depressive symptoms, and psychosomatic...

Systematic efforts have been carried out to study ageism against older populations. Less is known about ageism against younger populations, including how it is defined, how it manifests, its effects, and how it can be addressed. A scoping review was conducted aimed at identifying available evidence on these topics. A comprehensive search strategy w...

The goal of the current study was to describe the experiences, drawn from their life stories, of old women who suffer and have or are being treated for gambling disorder. The study was carried out through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 15 women, aged 60 and over. Analysis of the findings revealed four narratives that described four types...

Objectives Optimistic bias refers to the phenomenon that individuals believe bad things are less likely to happen to themselves than to others. However, whether optimistic bias could vary across age and culture is unknown. The present study aims to investigate: 1) whether individuals exhibit optimistic bias in the context of COVID-19 pandemic; 2) a...

This study examined the role of trust in lay people’s health behaviors related to the current pandemic. A total of 376 Israelis completed an online questionnaire during the second lockdown. A latent profile analysis was conducted to identify profiles of individuals based on their levels of trust in the various institutions and stakeholders examined...

Research concerning the effects of migrants on elder care in affluent receiving countries has been substantial, but we know little about the effects of migrant care on elder care in sending countries. There also is limited research on elder care in the context of the return migration of migrant care workers. This theoretical article explores the po...

The present study is based on a 3-year evaluation of an Israeli training program for local paid elder care workers, called, 'community care'. Interviews were conducted with all stakeholders involved in the program, including program developers, facilitators, funders, trainees, dropouts, graduates, employers and older care recipients. Qualitative th...

Objectives Guided by the human-ecological model, we aimed to identify contextual factors related to protective behaviors during the COVID-19 outbreak. Method Data are based on a nationally representative survey of adults aged 50+ in Israel during the COVID-19 outbreak ( N = 1,019). Regression models predicted three behaviors: using hand sanitizers...

We examined the extent to which a daughter’s worries are related to her mother’s perceived worries about COVID-19 (i.e., the daughter’s perception of her mother’s worries). Regard, defined as reciprocity, closeness or compatibility, and responsibility, defined as guilt, burden and protectiveness, were measured as potential moderators of the relatio...