Psychosocial differences in perceived older workers’ work (un)adaptability, effectiveness and workplace age discrimination

• Published in: European psychiatry 2023-03, Vol.66 (S1), p.S237-S237
• Main Authors: von Humboldt, S., Miguel, I., Valentim, J., Costa, A., Low, G., Leal, I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abstract; Adaptability; Age discrimination; e-Poster Presentation; Older workers; Perceptions
• ISSN: 0924-9338; 1778-3585
• DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.547

IntroductionThe aging population in the developed world has implied increasing age diversity in the workforce of organizations. Consequently, mutual perceptions about one’s co-workers and age discrimination is becoming increasingly important.ObjectivesThis study aims to explore how perceptions about older workers’ work (un)adaptability, work effectiveness and workplace age discrimination vary according to participants’ psychosocial factors, such as age group, gender, education level and work sector.MethodsThis study included a sample of 453 workers in Portugal, diverse in terms of age, gender, education level and work sector. Four different instruments were used: (a) a sociodemographic questionnaire; (b) an older workers’ Work Adaptability scale; (c) an older workers’ Work Effectiveness Scale and; (d) the Workplace Age Discrimination Scale (WADS).ResultsMiddle-aged and older participants perceive older workers as more adaptable than younger participants. The oldest group of participants perceives older workers to be more work-effective and experience the highest levels of age discrimination in the workplace, when compared to the other age groups. Also, participants with lower levels of education tend to perceive higher levels of workplace age discrimination, when compared to participants with high school and higher education.ConclusionsGenerational perceptions in the workplace are perceived by workers differently, hence organizations should implement age management strategies to address age discrimination, particularly due to the increasing proportion of older workers.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared