A subtle association raising bigger questions: Implicit and explicit ageism in the Dutch age IAT

This study presents the first baseline analysis of the Dutch Age Implicit Association Test (IAT) data, examining both implicit and explicit ageism measures in the Netherlands. Analyzing data from 8680 participants over a range of 12 years, we investigated implicit ageism scores, their association with explicit ageism measures, and associations with demographic characteristics. Results position the Netherlands in the international midfield for implicit ageism. Significant gender differences emerged, with men showing higher implicit ageism scores than women. We found no significant relationship between age and implicit ageism. The study revealed small to moderate yet significant correlations between implicit and explicit ageism measures, suggesting these are subtly related yet distinct constructs. These findings contribute to the international comparative literature on ageism by establishing a Dutch baseline and emphasize the need for further research into the association between implicit and explicit ageism. To tackle the prevalence and consequences of ageism in our social lives and institutions, the mechanisms underlying age-related biases across different contexts need to be investigated further.