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Previous studies have shown that the presence of age-based stereotypes in the workplace is often associated with lower levels of work engagement and adjustment among older employees. This study examines possible mediators and moderators of this relationship using data from a sample of 2,348 older (age > 50) employees at the Italian national rail company. We test a model in which the effects of age-based stereotype threat on organizational involvement, future time perspective, and psychological well-being are mediated by work–age identity integration (how much individuals see their age and organizational identities as compatible and blended). Secondly, we explored whether these effects are moderated by gender and job status. Results indicate that age-based stereotypes are associated with negative outcomes for employees’ work and personal adjustment, and that these relationships are partially mediated by variations in work–age identity integration.

Over the past decades, employment rates of older workers in most Western countries have rapidly increased. Hence, there is a growing interest in identifying the organizational dimensions that might impact the psychosocial adjustment of workers aged over 50 years. This study focuses on perceived organizational support (POS) and identity‐related measures (identification and authenticity) as key organizational components for workers at this stage of life. Furthermore, in the relationships discussed, we explore the moderating role of perceived age discrimination. In an ample sample of older workers (N = 4,563, aged 50–66 years), a moderated mediational model was tested where older workers' involvement was associated to POS. In the model, this relationship was mediated by organizational identification and authenticity, and the association between POS, identity‐related measures, and involvement was moderated by age‐based discrimination. Results showed that POS is associated with organizational involvement via organizational identification and authenticity and that high level of age discrimination decreased the positive association between POS, organizational identification, authenticity, and involvement.

We tested the hypothesis that parental support for autonomy moderates the effects of societal threat to safety on the development of right-wing authoritarianism (RWA). In a quasi-experimental study performed on 241 Italian university students, societal threat to safety fostered RWA only among participants who reported low levels of parental support for autonomy.

Stereotypes are «beliefs about the characteristics, attributes, and behaviors of members of certain groups» (Hilton & von Hippel, 1996, p. 240) that simplify cognitive processes and help people cope with the complexity of the world. However, these simplifications work to the disadvantage of many social groups, especially in the workplace (Carli & Eagly, 1999; Deaux & LaFrance, 1998; Perry & Finkelstein, 1999), as they often result in discrimination. If we consider that gender stereotypes and prejudices are still present in organizations, ageing is for women a risk for double discrimination. In this study, we analyzed for the first time the combined effect of gender and age discrimination on the individual well-being of over 50 women workers in Italy. In a sample of 4962 over 50 women workers, we measured the extent to which they perceive age related and gender discrimination and the impact of this discrimination on well-being. Results from a cluster analysis show that double discriminated women have the lowest level of well-being.