Perspectives of aged on victimization, "ageism," and their problems in urban society

Despite widespread beliefs about the frequency of age discrimination, little systematic information exists about perceptions of "ageism." This study explored personal reports of problematic experiences with friends and family, agencies, and neighborhoods encountered by a sample of 402 older people living in two urban communities. Older people reported relatively few instances of victimization, with neighborhood problems presenting the greatest concern. Socioeconomic factors were found to be the best predictors of feeling victimized.