perception of ageing and the third age (comparative analysis)

Perception of ageing and the third age (comparative analysis)

Vladimir Kozlov

LCSS-HSE,August 2011

Theoretical backgroundDevelopmental psychology and theory of the social development•E. Erikson (1959)•E. Erikson & J. Erikson (1986, 1987)

Analysis of the personal attitudes towards age and ageing•Bennett (1973), Rosencranz (1969)

Research question

What are the main determinants of the personal attitude towards seniors

and the old age?

Dependent variables

• Perceived age in the society:1. AGE PEOPLE STOP BEING DESCRIBED AS

YOUNG2. AGE PEOPLE START BEING DESCRIBED AS OLD• Aggregate index of the personal attitudes

towards seniors (objective characteristic, persons older than 70) in society

Hypotheses

• Personal attitude to age. If a person feels younger, than his/her real age,

the youth should finish and the old should age should start later. However the attitude to the seniors in this case cannot be previously easily predicted.

Hypotheses• Personal positive/negative experience of the

relationships with old persons (friends, relatives, colleagues)

The attitudes should depend on the character of experience. The subjective age should increase if the experience positive (old people are just not perceived as old).

Hypotheses• Personal high tolerance (incl. tolerance to the

seniors) The attitude towards seniors among tolerant

persons should be more positive. However the tolerant person should take no care to the age when youth finishes and old age starts.

Hypothesis

• Active lifestylePeople who are socially active s.p. are not afraid

of ageing and pension, because they will feel useful for the society anyway. So they should have positive attitude to ageing. The average subjective age of old should be higher

Hypotheses• Helplessness feeling and high risk (either

potential or excising)If the ageing is considered as a time of

helplessness and an additional risk, the person who is vulnerable (by subjective or objective characteristics) has worse attitude to this time period. The influence of this characteristic on the subjective age is not so clear.

Hypotheses• Belonging to a discriminated groupThe same conclusions as in the previous group.

The ageing can be considered as additional risk.

Control variables (microlevel)

• Socio-demographic and family characteristics

• Expectations from the pensions and health system, standards of living

• Attitude to the welfare state and its benefits

Data sources

• European Social Survey (ESS4) – 2008

Previous Russian research works in the similar field, based on ESS3-2006 :

Zakharov (2010) “When a girl becomes a woman…”.Monusova (2011) “Subjective wellbeing and age…”.

Control variables (macrolevel)

• Demographic

• Economic

• Social

• Political

Methods • Factor analysis and index constructing

• OLS-regressions (personal level)

• Multilevel analysis (personal level and country level)

• Cluster analysis (country level)

Perception of ageing, cross-countryAt what age persons stop generally being described as young

At what age persons start generally being described as old

NO NorwaySE SwedenFI Finland

PT PortugalGB United Kingdom

RU Russian FederationDK Denmark

HR CroatiaHU Hungary

EE EstoniaIE IrelandFR France

CZ Czech RepublicNL NetherlandsCH Switzerland

PL PolandES Spain

DE GermanySK Slovakia

IL IsraelBG Bulgaria

LV LatviaBE Belgium

TR TurkeySI Slovenia

UA UkraineRO Romania

CY CyprusGR Greece

30.00 35.00 40.00 45.00 50.00 55.00

NO Norway; At what age persons stop generally being

described as young; 33.70

SE Sweden; At what age per-sons stop generally being described as young; 34.03

FI Finland; At what age per-sons stop generally being described as young; 34.73

PT Portugal; At what age persons stop generally being


GB United Kingdom; At what age persons stop generally being described as young;

35.86

RU Russian Federation; At what age persons stop gener-ally being described as young;

38.01

DK Denmark; At what age persons stop generally being


HR Croatia; At what age per-sons stop generally being described as young; 39.16

HU Hungary; At what age persons stop generally being


EE Estonia; At what age per-sons stop generally being described as young; 39.65

IE Ireland; At what age per-sons stop generally being described as young; 39.88

FR France; At what age per-sons stop generally being described as young; 40.06

CZ Czech Republic; At what age persons stop generally being described as young;

40.67

NL Netherlands; At what age persons stop generally being


CH Switzerland; At what age persons stop generally being


PL Poland; At what age per-sons stop generally being described as young; 41.58

ES Spain; At what age per-sons stop generally being described as young; 42.60

DE Germany; At what age persons stop generally being


SK Slovakia; At what age persons stop generally being


IL Israel; At what age persons stop generally being de-scribed as young; 43.39

BG Bulgaria; At what age persons stop generally being


LV Latvia; At what age per-sons stop generally being described as young; 43.69

BE Belgium; At what age persons stop generally being


TR Turkey; At what age per-sons stop generally being described as young; 43.99

SI Slovenia; At what age per-sons stop generally being described as young; 44.27

UA Ukraine; At what age persons stop generally being


RO Romania; At what age persons stop generally being


CY Cyprus; At what age per-sons stop generally being described as young; 51.53

GR Greece; At what age per-sons stop generally being described as young; 52.12

TR TurkeyGB United Kingdom

HR CroatiaCZ Czech Republic

FI FinlandEE Estonia

SK SlovakiaDE GermanyHU Hungary

SE SwedenES Spain

RO RomaniaIE Ireland

NO NorwayLV Latvia

NL NetherlandsBG Bulgaria

FR FranceRU Russian Federation

UA UkraineSI SloveniaPL Poland

DK DenmarkBE Belgium

IL IsraelPT Portugal

CH SwitzerlandCY CyprusGR Greece

54.00 56.00 58.00 60.00 62.00 64.00 66.00 68.00 70.00

TR Turkey; Series1; 54.79

GB United Kingdom; Series1; 59.45

HR Croatia; Series1; 60.24

CZ Czech Republic; Series1; 60.59

FI Finland; Series1; 61.04EE Estonia; Series1; 61.2SK Slovakia; Series1; 61.4DE Germany; Series1; 61.48HU Hungary; Series1; 61.61SE Sweden; Series1; 61.9ES Spain; Series1; 62.16RO Romania; Series1; 62.22IE Ireland; Series1; 62.45NO Norway; Series1; 62.48

LV Latvia; Series1; 62.84

NL Netherlands; Series1; 63.47

BG Bulgaria; Series1; 63.51FR France; Series1; 63.52

RU Russian Federation; Series1; 63.69

UA Ukraine; Series1; 63.75SI Slovenia; Series1; 63.77PL Poland; Series1; 63.84

DK Denmark; Series1; 64.25BE Belgium; Series1; 64.32

IL Israel; Series1; 65.12PT Portugal; Series1; 65.41

CH Switzerland; Series1; 65.69

CY Cyprus; Series1; 66.8GR Greece; Series1; 68.28

Perception of ageing, cross-countryPeriod when a person is neither young, nor old

TR TurkeyRO Romania

CY CyprusGR Greece

SK SlovakiaDE Germany

LV LatviaUA UkraineSI Slovenia

ES SpainCZ Czech Republic

BG BulgariaBE BelgiumHR CroatiaEE Estonia

IL IsraelPL Poland

HU HungaryNL Netherlands

IE IrelandFR France

GB United KingdomCH Switzerland

RU Russian FederationDK Denmark

FI FinlandSE Sweden

NO NorwayPT Portugal

10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00

TR Turkey; Series1; 10.80RO Romania; Series1; 14.95

CY Cyprus; Series1; 15.27GR Greece; Series1; 16.16

SK Slovakia; Series1; 18.07DE Germany; Series1; 18.22

LV Latvia; Series1; 19.15UA Ukraine; Series1; 19.39SI Slovenia; Series1; 19.50ES Spain; Series1; 19.56

CZ Czech Republic; Series1; 19.92BG Bulgaria; Series1; 20.00

BE Belgium; Series1; 20.53HR Croatia; Series1; 21.08

EE Estonia; Series1; 21.55IL Israel; Series1; 21.73

PL Poland; Series1; 22.26HU Hungary; Series1; 22.38NL Netherlands; Series1; 22.41IE Ireland; Series1; 22.57

FR France; Series1; 23.46


CH Switzerland; Series1; 24.25


DK Denmark; Series1; 25.84FI Finland; Series1; 26.31

SE Sweden; Series1; 27.87NO Norway; Series1; 28.78

PT Portugal; Series1; 30.58

Perception of ageing, cross-country,by self-reported age groups

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 937.0

42.0

47.0

52.0

57.0

62.0

67.0

1; av. age (end of youth); 38.22; av. age (end of youth); 37.63; av. age (end of youth); 38.7

4; av. age (end of youth); 39.0


6; av. age (end of youth); 43.17; av. age (end of youth); 43.9



1; av. age (beginning of the old age); 59.5





6; av. age (beginning of the old age); 64.17; av. age (beginning of the old

age); 63.7



av. age (end of youth) av. age (beginning of the old age)

Attitude to the ageing,overall

How most people view status of people over 70

Overall how negative or positive feel towards people over 70

BG BulgariaUA Ukraine

RU Russian FederationSK Slovakia

PL PolandHR Croatia

CZ Czech RepublicHU Hungary

LV LatviaRO Romania

TR TurkeyEE EstoniaSE Sweden

DK DenmarkDE Germany

FI FinlandFR France

PT PortugalES Spain

GB United KingdomNO NorwaySI Slovenia

CH SwitzerlandGR Greece

BE BelgiumIL Israel

NL NetherlandsIE Ireland

CY Cyprus

2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 5.00 5.50 6.00 6.50 7.00

BG Bulgaria; How most peo-ple view status of people over

70; 2.37

UA Ukraine; How most peo-ple view status of people over

70; 3.22

RU Russian Federation; How most people view status of

people over 70; 3.26

SK Slovakia; How most peo-ple view status of people over

70; 3.32

PL Poland; How most people view status of people over

70; 3.70

HR Croatia; How most people view status of people over

70; 3.76

CZ Czech Republic; How most people view status of people

over 70; 3.77

HU Hungary; How most peo-ple view status of people over

70; 3.93

LV Latvia; How most people view status of people over

70; 4.16

RO Romania; How most peo-ple view status of people over

70; 4.19

TR Turkey; How most people view status of people over

70; 4.44

EE Estonia; How most people view status of people over

70; 4.46

SE Sweden; How most people view status of people over

70; 4.63

DK Denmark; How most people view status of people

over 70; 4.74

DE Germany; How most peo-ple view status of people over

70; 5.04

FI Finland; How most people view status of people over

70; 5.12

FR France; How most people view status of people over

70; 5.14

PT Portugal; How most peo-ple view status of people over

70; 5.14

ES Spain; How most people view status of people over

70; 5.16

GB United Kingdom; How most people view status of

people over 70; 5.18

NO Norway; How most peo-ple view status of people over

70; 5.24

SI Slovenia; How most people view status of people over

70; 5.54

CH Switzerland; How most people view status of people

over 70; 5.60

GR Greece; How most people view status of people over

70; 5.61

BE Belgium; How most peo-ple view status of people over

70; 5.61

IL Israel; How most people view status of people over

70; 5.63

NL Netherlands; How most people view status of people

over 70; 5.90

IE Ireland; How most people view status of people over

70; 5.92

CY Cyprus; How most people view status of people over

70; 7.09

SK SlovakiaTR Turkey

PT PortugalFR France

BE BelgiumRO Romania

IL IsraelCZ Czech Republic

NL NetherlandsGB United Kingdom

UA UkraineES Spain

HU HungaryHR Croatia

DE GermanyCH Switzerland

SE SwedenPL Poland

NO NorwayIE Ireland

DK DenmarkRU Russian Federation

EE EstoniaSI SloveniaGR Greece

BG BulgariaCY Cyprus

LV LatviaFI Finland

6.00 6.50 7.00 7.50 8.00 8.50

SK Slovakia; Series1; 6.71TR Turkey; Series1; 6.88PT Portugal; Series1; 6.92

FR France; Series1; 7.01BE Belgium; Series1; 7.17

RO Romania; Series1; 7.26IL Israel; Series1; 7.32


NL Netherlands; Series1; 7.38


UA Ukraine; Series1; 7.46ES Spain; Series1; 7.48HU Hungary; Series1; 7.49

HR Croatia; Series1; 7.54DE Germany; Series1; 7.61CH Switzerland; Series1; 7.62

SE Sweden; Series1; 7.76PL Poland; Series1; 7.76NO Norway; Series1; 7.77IE Ireland; Series1; 7.78DK Denmark; Series1; 7.79


EE Estonia; Series1; 7.89SI Slovenia; Series1; 7.95

GR Greece; Series1; 8.08BG Bulgaria; Series1; 8.10

CY Cyprus; Series1; 8.17LV Latvia; Series1; 8.22

FI Finland; Series1; 8.29

Attitude to the ageing,economic position

People over 70 a burden on health service People over 70 contribution to the economy

TR TurkeyIE Ireland

BG BulgariaES Spain

GB United KingdomFI Finland

NO NorwayRO RomaniaPT Portugal

DK DenmarkSI Slovenia

RU Russian FederationNL Netherlands

LV LatviaUA UkraineSE SwedenHR Croatia

IL IsraelPL Poland

BE BelgiumEE EstoniaCY Cyprus

SK SlovakiaGR GreeceFR France

DE GermanyHU Hungary

CH SwitzerlandCZ Czech Republic

-1.50 1.50 4.50 7.50

TR Turkey; Series1; 3.50IE Ireland; Series1; 3.79

BG Bulgaria; Series1; 3.97ES Spain; Series1; 4.16


FI Finland; Series1; 4.44NO Norway; Series1; 4.55RO Romania; Series1; 4.61PT Portugal; Series1; 4.63

DK Denmark; Series1; 4.92SI Slovenia; Series1; 5.03


NL Netherlands; Series1; 5.26LV Latvia; Series1; 5.27UA Ukraine; Series1; 5.28SE Sweden; Series1; 5.28HR Croatia; Series1; 5.31

IL Israel; Series1; 5.47PL Poland; Series1; 5.56BE Belgium; Series1; 5.57

EE Estonia; Series1; 5.72CY Cyprus; Series1; 5.76SK Slovakia; Series1; 5.90GR Greece; Series1; 5.99FR France; Series1; 6.11DE Germany; Series1; 6.18HU Hungary; Series1; 6.18CH Switzerland; Series1; 6.23


SK SlovakiaCZ Czech Republic

RU Russian FederationBG BulgariaUA Ukraine

LV LatviaHR Croatia

HU HungaryEE Estonia

RO RomaniaPL Poland

SI SloveniaTR TurkeyCY Cyprus

IL IsraelDK DenmarkPT PortugalSE Sweden

ES SpainBE BelgiumGR Greece

DE GermanyFI Finland

NL NetherlandsNO Norway

GB United KingdomCH Switzerland

IE IrelandFR France

2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00

SK Slovakia; Series1; 2.49



BG Bulgaria; Series1; 2.74UA Ukraine; Series1; 2.76

LV Latvia; Series1; 2.96HR Croatia; Series1; 3.01HU Hungary; Series1; 3.04

EE Estonia; Series1; 3.46RO Romania; Series1; 3.49

PL Poland; Series1; 3.62SI Slovenia; Series1; 3.65

TR Turkey; Series1; 3.87CY Cyprus; Series1; 4.24

IL Israel; Series1; 4.31DK Denmark; Series1; 4.31PT Portugal; Series1; 4.34

SE Sweden; Series1; 4.42ES Spain; Series1; 4.48BE Belgium; Series1; 4.53

GR Greece; Series1; 4.69DE Germany; Series1; 4.86FI Finland; Series1; 4.89NL Netherlands; Series1; 4.92NO Norway; Series1; 4.92


CH Switzerland; Series1; 5.20IE Ireland; Series1; 5.34


Attitude to the ageing,psychological position

Most people view those over 70 with pityMost people view those over 70 with admiration

CH SwitzerlandTR TurkeyFR France

DK DenmarkES Spain

CY CyprusNL Netherlands

BE BelgiumDE Germany

EE EstoniaSI Slovenia

SK SlovakiaIE Ireland

PT PortugalNO Norway

PL PolandFI Finland

GB United KingdomHU Hungary

SE SwedenGR GreeceHR Croatia

IL IsraelBG Bulgaria

CZ Czech RepublicRO Romania

RU Russian FederationLV Latvia

UA Ukraine

1.60 1.80 2.00 2.20 2.40 2.60 2.80

CH Switzerland; Series1; 1.69TR Turkey; Series1; 1.74

FR France; Series1; 1.81DK Denmark; Series1; 1.84

ES Spain; Series1; 1.87CY Cyprus; Series1; 1.90NL Netherlands; Series1; 1.91

BE Belgium; Series1; 1.96DE Germany; Series1; 1.97EE Estonia; Series1; 1.97SI Slovenia; Series1; 1.99

SK Slovakia; Series1; 2.03IE Ireland; Series1; 2.04

PT Portugal; Series1; 2.11NO Norway; Series1; 2.12

PL Poland; Series1; 2.16FI Finland; Series1; 2.16


HU Hungary; Series1; 2.19SE Sweden; Series1; 2.20GR Greece; Series1; 2.21HR Croatia; Series1; 2.21

IL Israel; Series1; 2.26BG Bulgaria; Series1; 2.38


RO Romania; Series1; 2.50


LV Latvia; Series1; 2.61UA Ukraine; Series1; 2.71

UA UkraineRU Russian Federation

HR CroatiaBG Bulgaria

LV LatviaDK DenmarkDE Germany

CZ Czech RepublicSK Slovakia

CH SwitzerlandHU Hungary

EE EstoniaNO NorwaySE SwedenFI Finland

SI SloveniaPL PolandTR TurkeyCY CyprusGR Greece

IL IsraelBE Belgium

NL NetherlandsFR France

GB United KingdomES Spain

RO RomaniaIE Ireland

PT Portugal

1.40 1.60 1.80 2.00 2.20 2.40 2.60 2.80

UA Ukraine; Series1; 1.45


HR Croatia; Series1; 1.79BG Bulgaria; Series1; 1.83

LV Latvia; Series1; 1.96DK Denmark; Series1; 1.99DE Germany; Series1; 1.99


SK Slovakia; Series1; 2.06CH Switzerland; Series1; 2.06

HU Hungary; Series1; 2.09EE Estonia; Series1; 2.11

NO Norway; Series1; 2.23SE Sweden; Series1; 2.24FI Finland; Series1; 2.25SI Slovenia; Series1; 2.25PL Poland; Series1; 2.26

TR Turkey; Series1; 2.31CY Cyprus; Series1; 2.33GR Greece; Series1; 2.35IL Israel; Series1; 2.37BE Belgium; Series1; 2.37NL Netherlands; Series1; 2.38



ES Spain; Series1; 2.70RO Romania; Series1; 2.77IE Ireland; Series1; 2.79PT Portugal; Series1; 2.80

35,0030,0025,0020,0015,0010,00

Gap between end of the youth and beginning of the old age

50,00

45,00

40,00

35,00

At w

hat a

ge pe

rsons

stop

gene

rally

being

desc

ribed

asyo

ung

R Sq Linear = 0,707

35,0030,0025,0020,0015,0010,00

Gap between end of the youth and beginning of the old age

69,00

66,00

63,00

60,00

57,00

54,00

At w

hat a

ge pe

rsons

start

gene

rally

being

desc

ribed

as ol

d

R Sq Linear = 0,044

30,0025,0020,0015,0010,005,000,00

% of It depends answers (young)

50,00

45,00

40,00

35,00

At w

hat a

ge pe

rsons

stop

gene

rally

being

desc

ribed

asyo

ung

R Sq Linear = 0,132

30,0025,0020,0015,0010,005,000,00

% of It depends answers (old)

69,00

66,00

63,00

60,00

57,00

54,00

At w

hat a

ge pe

rsons

start

gene

rally

being

desc

ribed

as ol

d

R Sq Linear = 0,01

8,007,006,005,004,003,002,00


50,00

45,00

40,00

35,00

At w

hat a

ge pe

rsons

stop

gene

rally

being

desc

ribed

asyo

ung

R Sq Linear = 0,022

8,007,006,005,004,003,002,00


69,00

66,00

63,00

60,00

57,00

54,00

At w

hat a

ge pe

rsons

start

gene

rally

being

desc

ribed

as ol

d

R Sq Linear = 0,119

100,0080,0060,0040,0020,000,00

GPP, PPP, p/c

50,00

45,00

40,00

35,00

At w

hat a

ge pe

rsons

stop

gene

rally

being

desc

ribed

asyo

ung

R Sq Linear = 0,155

100,0080,0060,0040,0020,000,00

GPP, PPP, p/c

69,00

66,00

63,00

60,00

57,00

54,00

At w

hat a

ge pe

rsons

start

gene

rally

being

desc

ribed

as ol

d

R Sq Linear = 0,03

perception of ageing and the third age (comparative analysis)

Documents