Ageism in Behavioral Healthcare

Ageism is a pervasive problem at an individual, cultural, and systemic level, arguably one of the more socially acceptable forms of prejudice and bias at this point in today’s culture. This chapter reviews the concept of ageism and highlights available literature on the topic as well as areas where more research is needed. The effect of ageism on behavioral and physical health outcomes, intersectionality between ageism and other forms of bias and prejudice, the problem of ageism within healthcare settings and training, and burgeoning areas of intervention to mitigate the problem are reviewed.