老人是珍寶或是負擔？亞洲青壯世代對老年人的態度

Older adults: a treasure or a burden? Attitudes among Asian youth

目標：本研究聚焦於同時承受少子化及高齡化問題的亞洲國家如台灣、中國、日本、南韓及新加坡，從世代差異、資源競爭及個人價值三種面向，探討青壯年對老年人的態度。方法：使用2010-2012年《世界價值觀調查》第六波資料，分別從「老年人政經資源使用過多」、「對老人有好感」兩個面向，比較亞洲社會青壯年對於老年人態度的差異。結果：愈重視「個人自主與成就」價值觀的亞洲青壯年愈傾向認同老年人政經資源使用過多，而與華人文化較有關的台灣、中國及新加坡，自評社經劣勢愈強，愈傾向認為老年人政經資源使用過多（如中國），或對老人沒有好感（如台灣、中國及新加坡）。日本、南韓及新加坡青壯年生活控制感愈高，愈不易有老年人政經資源使用過多的負面想法。多數國家和台灣相同，愈重視「社會規範與合群」價值觀的青壯年對老人較有好感，也較易降低其對老年人政經資源使用過多的敵意（台灣為主）。在台灣及新加坡，教育程度能緩和青壯世代對於老年人政經資源使用過多的敵意，卻不會增加其對老年人有好感。「資源衝突論」與「個人價值」論可部分解釋亞洲青壯年對老年人的刻版印象。結論：亞洲國家在快速高齡化過程中，代間資源競爭是一個重要的社會議題，而愈趨向個人主義價值觀也愈增加對年長者的負面想法。如何促進世代間彼此了解，創造跨世代的社會支持環境是未來努力方向。

Objectives: Many Asian countries are facing the challenges of low birth rates and rapid aging. This study examines the attitudes of young people in 5 such countries toward older adults from 3 perspectives: 1) intergenerational differences, 2) resource competition, and 3) personal value orientation. Methods: We used data from the World Values Survey Wave 6 (2010–2012) to examine the attitudes of young people toward older adults. Age-related stereotypes comprised two domains: 1) “disproportionate political and economic power of older adults,” and 2) “positive views of older adults.” Results: Young people who valued “autonomy and achievement” viewed older adults as having disproportionate political and economic power (mainly in China). Socioeconomically disadvantaged youth also held negative views of older adults (mainly in Taiwan, China, and Singapore). Young people who perceived a sense of control over their lives held positive views of older adults and disagreed with the stereotype that older adults “have disproportionate political and economic power.” In most of the Asian countries studied, young people who valued “social norms and community” had favorable views of older adults. The attitudes of young people toward older adults can be attributed to resource competition and personal values. Education significantly reduced prejudice against older adults (mainly in Taiwan and Singapore). Conclusions: As populations in Asian countries rapidly age, intergenerational resource competition and growing individualism may increase prejudice toward older adults. Education and policy intervention are needed to improve intergenerational communication and create a healthier social environment.