Workplace Ageism, Job Satisfaction, and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Workers: The Roles of US-Born Status

More than 60% of older workers report experiencing ageism in the workplace, yet little is known about whether the relationship between ageism, job satisfaction, and mental health differs by US-born status. This study examined whether job satisfaction mediates the association between workplace ageism and depressive symptoms and assessed whether this association differs by US-born status. Data were drawn from the 2018 and 2020 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 for workers aged 53- 62, and a multiple-group path analysis was conducted. The results indicated that, among US-born workers, job satisfaction significantly mediated the associations between depressive symptoms and both ageism in promotion and ageism in early retirement. Among immigrant workers, however, this mediating effect was significant only for ageism in promotion. Findings underscore the importance of developing anti-ageism policies that adopt an intersectional approach, jointly considering US-born status and age to reduce the detrimental impacts of ageism on workers’ mental health.