Cultural symbols transforming into older adults, representing the influence of culture on aging perceptions.

Is Your Culture Making You Ageist? Unveiling Hidden Biases Around the World

Nico Varela in Culture & Society December 2025 • 5 min read.

"New research reveals how cultural values subtly influence our attitudes towards older adults – and the surprising ways it impacts society."

The world is getting older, and fast. As populations age globally, understanding the complex interplay between culture and ageism becomes increasingly critical. Ageism, defined as the stereotyping and discrimination against individuals based on their age, poses a significant challenge to creating inclusive and equitable societies.

While demographic factors such as the size and rate of aging populations have been traditionally examined, the influence of cultural values has often been overlooked. However, culture profoundly shapes our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors, making it a vital lens through which to examine ageism. Culture dictates how we interact, respect, and value individuals based on age.

Now, a new study sheds light on this crucial connection, exploring how six key cultural dimensions influence ageism across 31 countries. The findings challenge common assumptions and reveal surprising insights into the cultural roots of age bias, and opens the opportunity to create a global movement.

Decoding Culture: The Six Dimensions That Shape Ageism

Cultural symbols transforming into older adults, representing the influence of culture on aging perceptions.

Geert Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory, a widely recognized framework in cross-cultural studies, provides a valuable foundation for understanding how cultural values influence ageism. The research leverages six dimensions of the theory to provide new insights:

Here’s a breakdown of each dimension and its relationship to ageism:

Power Distance (PDI): This dimension reflects the extent to which a society accepts unequal distribution of power. Societies with high PDI tend to have hierarchical structures where respect for elders is emphasized. However, the study reveals a paradoxical finding: higher PDI is associated with increased perceptions of older adults as a burden, underperforming compared to young people, and wielding too much political influence.
Individualism vs. Collectivism (IDV): This dimension measures the degree to which individuals are integrated into groups. Collectivist societies, often associated with Eastern cultures, are traditionally believed to value older adults more highly due to filial piety. However, research suggests that collectivism can also foster ageism by emphasizing differences between in-groups and out-groups, potentially leading to negative stereotypes about older age groups. The study supports this, showing that higher IDV correlates with lower levels of certain forms of ageism.
Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI): This dimension indicates a society's tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty. Cultures with high UAI tend to avoid the unexpected and prefer structured environments. Aging, with its inherent unpredictability, can be a source of discomfort in these cultures. The study confirms that higher UAI is linked to negative perceptions of older adults and a feeling that they are getting to much Government aid.
Masculinity vs. Femininity (MAS): This dimension reflects a society's emphasis on achievement, assertiveness, and competition versus cooperation, modesty, and caring. The study did not find a significant correlation between MAS and ageism, challenging previous research that suggested a link between valuing strength and success and devaluing older adults perceived as weak.
Long-Term Orientation (LTO): This dimension connects past traditions with present and future actions. Societies with a high LTO prioritize long-term goals and investments. The study reveals that higher LTO is associated with the perception that young employees are outperforming older ones, due to the concept that younger workers will have a longer and more impactful future.
Indulgence vs. Restraint (IVR): This dimension measures the extent to which a society allows free gratification of basic human desires. Indulgent societies, which prioritize enjoyment and freedom, tend to have lower mortality rates and longer life expectancies. The study supports this, showing that higher IVR correlates with positive views of older adults as friendly and low burdens on the society.

These cultural dimensions provide a framework for understanding the cultural roots of ageism. The six categories represent a range of data on the cultural and economic influences of these biases.

The Path Forward: Reframing Aging in a Global Context

This study underscores the profound influence of cultural values on ageism and highlights the need for culturally sensitive interventions to combat age bias. By understanding how cultural dimensions shape perceptions of aging, we can develop targeted strategies to promote positive attitudes toward older adults and create more inclusive societies for all ages. Additional research should be focused on the effect of aging on cross-sectional cultures to continue to reframe the negative connotations of the topic.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.3390/jal4040022,

Title: Relationships Between Six Cultural Scales And Ten Ageism Dimensions: Correlation Analysis Using Data From 31 Countries

Subject: econ.gn q-fin.ec

Authors: Keisuke Kokubun

Published: 08-08-2024

Everything You Need To Know

What is ageism and why is it a growing concern in today's world?

Ageism is the stereotyping and discrimination against individuals based on their age. As the global population ages rapidly, ageism presents a significant challenge to building inclusive and equitable societies. The prevalence of ageism is concerning because it affects social attitudes, employment, healthcare, and overall quality of life for older adults. Understanding and addressing ageism is crucial for fostering respect and ensuring the well-being of all age groups.

How does Geert Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory explain the relationship between culture and ageism?

Geert Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory provides a valuable framework for understanding how cultural values influence ageism. The research leverages six dimensions of this theory to examine these connections: Power Distance (PDI), Individualism vs. Collectivism (IDV), Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI), Masculinity vs. Femininity (MAS), Long-Term Orientation (LTO), and Indulgence vs. Restraint (IVR). Each dimension helps to illuminate how societal values shape attitudes toward older adults, revealing complex and often surprising links between culture and age bias.

In the context of cultural dimensions, how does 'Power Distance' impact perceptions of older adults?

In societies with high Power Distance (PDI), where there is an acceptance of unequal power distribution, respect for elders is often emphasized. However, the study surprisingly found that higher PDI is associated with negative perceptions of older adults. These perceptions include viewing older adults as a burden, underperforming compared to young people, and wielding too much political influence. This paradox highlights the complexity of cultural influences on ageism.

How do 'Individualism vs. Collectivism' and 'Uncertainty Avoidance' dimensions relate to ageism?

Individualism vs. Collectivism (IDV) and Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI) both play roles in shaping ageist attitudes. Collectivist societies, though traditionally valuing elders, can still foster ageism by emphasizing differences between in-groups and out-groups, leading to negative stereotypes about older age groups. The study shows that higher IDV correlates with lower levels of some forms of ageism. Meanwhile, cultures with high Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI), which prefer structured environments, tend to view aging, with its unpredictability, negatively. The study confirms that higher UAI is linked to negative perceptions of older adults and a feeling that they are getting to much Government aid.

What are the implications of 'Long-Term Orientation' and 'Indulgence vs. Restraint' on attitudes toward older adults?

Long-Term Orientation (LTO) and Indulgence vs. Restraint (IVR) offer different insights into ageism. Societies with higher LTO prioritize long-term goals and investments. The study found that higher LTO is associated with the perception that young employees are outperforming older ones, due to the concept that younger workers will have a longer and more impactful future. In contrast, societies that are more Indulgent (IVR) tend to have positive views of older adults, correlating with seeing them as friendly and less of a burden on society. These findings highlight the diverse ways cultural values influence age-related perceptions.