From The Golden Bachelor to Our Health: Why Ageism Matters for Our Well-Being

Presenter: Rita X. Hu, PhD

How do we come to believe what aging looks like—and how do those beliefs affect our social relationships and health? In this talk, Dr. Rita Hu explores how media portrayals, such as The Golden Bachelor, and our social environment can shape our beliefs about aging. These beliefs, once internalized, can influence how we connect with others, affecting loneliness, friendships. Over time, these experiences shape our physical, mental and cognitive health.

Rita X. Hu, PhD, is a developmental scientist and social worker. Her research explores how ageism is internalized across the lifespan and how it affects health and well-being, including memory and social connection. Dr. Hu earned her PhD in Social Work and Developmental Psychology from the University of Michigan and is currently a Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Chicago.