Introduction: In China's aging society, the attitudes of different age groups towards older people are crucial for social harmony and inclusivity. Traditional values influence fertility, parenting and family attitudes, which may mediate the relationship between age groups and attitudes towards older people.
Purpose: Based on Social Learning Theory, higher education can foster more inclusive worldviews. Highly educated individuals are more likely to challenge stereotypes and have positive attitudes towards different age cohorts, including older people. Thus, education level may act as a moderator in this context.
Method: Using cross-sectional data from the 2021 China General Social Survey (CGSS), our sample includes 2551 participants, with 54.8% being female, aged from 18 to 99 (mean age = 51.60, SD = 17.53). A moderated mediation analysis via the PROCESS procedure (version 4.2 beta) in SPSS was conducted.
Results: Older age groups tend to perceive older people as a societal burden. Fertility, parenting and family attitudes do mediate this relationship. Specifically, those with stronger generativity-related beliefs are more inclined to view older people as a burden. Nevertheless, this effect is less pronounced among highly educated individuals compared to their less educated counterparts.
Conclusions: These findings underscore the need for policymakers to take into account age, fertility, parenting and family attitudes, and education levels. By promoting appropriate family values and expanding educational opportunities, we can foster more positive attitudes towards older people, thereby enhancing social harmony and inclusion in an aging society.