TRANSGRESSIONS AND SICKNESS IN OLD-AGE

While old age and age-related health problems are often stigmatizing, there appear to be variations in the degree of stigma related to any s ingle condition. Through an examination of three such conditions, urin ary incontinence, dementia and arthritis, the authors develop the hypo thesis that multiple transgressions of key cultural values result in i ncreased stigma. These values include: mastery, productivity, individu al responsibility and cleanliness. The transgressions involved in inco ntinence and dementia, in particular, involve an overdetermined assaul t on adult status. Strategies used to manage symptoms are as much dire cted to stigma reduction as they are to symptom alleviation.