Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2016
Publication Title
Gerontology & Geriatrics Education
Volume
37
Issue Number
2
First Page
108
Last Page
122
DOI
10.1080/02701960.2015.1079704
Keywords
attitudes toward aging, service learning, student attitudes, undergraduate education
Disciplines
Psychology
Abstract
The current study examined whether relationship quality with older adults currently and in childhood, as well as experience with older adults, was associated with biases toward older adults and interest in working with older adults as a possible career area. The authors sampled undergraduate students (N = 753, M = 18.97 years, SD = 2.11 years) from a Northern California university. In hierarchical regression analyses, higher perceived quality of relationships with older adult family members, higher perceived social support, and lower perceived conflict from relationships with older adults was significantly associated with positive attitudes toward older adults. Interest in working with older adults was significantly associated with taking courses in aging, providing care to an older adult, and volunteering with older adults. These results suggest that positive relationships with older adults are useful in reducing biases, though student interactions with older adults are key in helping to promote interest in working with older adults.
Recommended Citation
Hardeep Obhi and Erin Woodhead. "Attitudes and Experiences With Older Adults: A Case for Service Learning for Undergraduates" Gerontology & Geriatrics Education (2016): 108-122. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701960.2015.1079704
Comments
This is the Accepted Manuscript of an article that appeared in Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, volume 37, issue 2, 2016. The Version of Record (VOR) may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02701960.2015.1079704 SJSU users: use the following link to login and access the article via SJSU databases.