Save the young-the elderly have lived their lives: Ageism in marriage and family therapy

The paucity of Literature addressing mental health issues concerning geriat ric populations represents the perpetuation of ageist practices and beliefs in the field of marriage and family therapy. The purpose of this study was to assess whether client age and clinical training relate to the evaluatio n of couples who present for conjoint therapy. Written vignettes describing two couples, one older and one younger, who report issues involving the ab sence of sexual intimacy, increased frequency of arguments, and increased u se of alcohol were evaluated by practicing marriage and family therapists, therapists-in-training, and individuals with no clinical background. It was hypothesized that respondents' views would vary in connection with the age of the couple and with the three levels of participant training. Results i ndicate that client age and participant training are associated with percep tions of individual and couple functioning. Our findings suggest that the r elational and mental health concerns experienced by elder couples are not p erceived as seriously as are identical concerns experienced by younger coup les. Contrary to our expectations the observed differences between views of the two age conditions did not significantly differ between levels of part icipant training. Training and experience in marriage and family therapy ma y not significantly mitigate vulnerability to age-discrepant views.