Journal article
Intersectional Discrimination and Mental Health in Later Life: Ageism as a Core Dimension
The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, Vol.80(12), gbaf184
12/2025
DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbaf184
PMCID: PMC12598931
PMID: 40990706
Appears in UI Libraries Support Open Access
Abstract
Despite extensive literature that examines the relationship between discrimination and health, less is known about specific discrimination attributions and how they may differentially associate with health. To address this gap, the current study investigated the latent typology of discrimination attributions and the intersectional attributions' relationships with mental health in later life.
Data came from 6,282 respondents in the 2016 Psychosocial Leave-Behind Questionnaire of the Health and Retirement Study. Participants ascribed their everyday discrimination experiences to a list of potential reasons (e.g., ethnicity, ancestry, gender, race, age, religion, financial). Latent class analysis (LCA) was performed to identify discrimination attribution typologies. Regression models with marginal effects were conducted to explore differential health associations of different attribution typologies.
Five distinct typologies were identified: few discrimination experiences (33%), discrimination with no specified attributes (5%), discrimination due to age (48%), discrimination due to age, race, ethnicity (8%), and discrimination due to age, explicit physical characteristics, and socioeconomic disadvantages (5%). Regression analysis revealed significant associations between discrimination and mental health indicators such as depressive symptoms and loneliness. Discrimination involving more than just age, especially physical and socioeconomic disadvantages, had strong negative associations with health.
Ageism emerged as a core dimension and prevalent theme, and often co-occurs with other characteristics, highlighting the intersectionality of perceived discrimination. The negative health associations were most pronounced for those who experienced discrimination related to intersectional attributions. Implications for social policies, practice, and research were discussed.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Intersectional Discrimination and Mental Health in Later Life: Ageism as a Core Dimension
- Creators
- Yi Wang - University of IowaYifan Lou - Virginia Commonwealth UniversityHuei-Wern Shen - University of North TexasErnest Gonzales - New York University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, Vol.80(12), gbaf184
- DOI
- 10.1093/geronb/gbaf184
- PMID
- 40990706
- PMCID
- PMC12598931
- NLM abbreviation
- J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
- ISSN
- 1079-5014
- eISSN
- 1758-5368
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press; CARY
- Grant note
- National Institute on Aging (NIA): U01AG009740 Social Security Administration
The HRS (Health and Retirement Study) is sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (NIA U01AG009740) and the Social Security Administration and is conducted by the University of Michigan. We thank the Editorial team at The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences and anonymous reviewers for the opportunity to advance our understanding of intersectional discrimination and health among older adults in the United States.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 09/24/2025
- Date published
- 12/2025
- Academic Unit
- School of Social Work
- Record Identifier
- 9984966333202771
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