title: Attitudes and Experiences With Older Adults: A Case for Service Learning for Undergraduates.
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.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , San Jose State University , San Jose , California , USA.
authors.forename: Hardeep K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Obhi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , San Jose State University , San Jose , California , USA.
authors.forename: Erin L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Woodhead
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D063506:Ageism; D000375:Aging; D001290:Attitude; D002321:Career Choice; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011584:Psychology / Q000193:education*; D013240:Stereotyping; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: attitudes toward aging; service learning; student attitudes; undergraduate education