This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Okoye, U. O. Articles by Obikeze, D. S. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Stereotypes and Perceptions of the Elderly by the Youth in Nigeria: Implications for Social Policy

University of Nigeria

Dan S. Obikeze

University of Nigeria

This study investigates stereotypes and perceptions of the elderly by youths, their effects on intergenerational relations, and the implications for traditional social support systems and social policy in Nigeria. Data were collected through a questionnaire administered to 800youths aged 15 to 30 and selected through a stratified random sampling process from both rural and urban areas of Anambra State of Nigeria. Four focus group discussion sessions also were conducted. Results show that Nigerian youths do not see the elderly as making too many demands on their children. The respondents, however, possess a number of aging stereotypes. They believe that the elderly behave like children and are sickly, conservative, suspicious, and secretive. Having stereotypes is related to level of education but not to gender, age, or place of residence. The policy implications of these findings are discussed and a new approach to care for the elderly recommended.

Key Words: stereotype • perception • youth • intergenerational relation • social policy

Journal of Applied Gerontology, Vol. 24, No. 5, 439-452 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0733464805278648


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?