title: Factors associated with ageist attitudes among college students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ageist views have the potential to deleteriously impact large populations of older adults in the USA and worldwide. The high levels of ageism among young adults might originate from their limited interactions with older adults (individuals aged 65 years and older). The present study examined the factors associated with ageist attitudes among college students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analyzed from 641 college students using an internet-delivered questionnaire. Participants were asked to rate their level of agreement with 17 ageist statements about older adults. A general least squares regression analysis was carried out to identify the associations of participants' sex, race/ethnicity and interactions with older adults on self-identified ageist attitudes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 37% of participating college students interacted with older adults one or more times per week, 38.3% had resided with an older adult in their lifetime and 78.2% had volunteered/worked with an older adult. Participants who were female (P = 0.035), African American (P = 0.033), those with more frequent interaction with older adults (P = 0.001) and those with experience living with an older adult (P = 0.028) reported significantly lower negative ageist attitudes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that increased exposure to and interactions with older adults can reduce ageist views among college students. Practical recommendations are provided to increase students' opportunities for interactions with and exposure to older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1698-1706.
authors: College of Public Health, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.|Texas A&M University School of Public Health, College Station, Texas, USA.
authors: Matthew Lee
authors: ML
authors: Smith
authors: Bexar County Community Health Collaborative, San Antonio, Texas.
authors: Caroline D
authors: CD
authors: Bergeron
authors: College of Public Health, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
authors: Clay
authors: C
authors: Cowart
authors: Texas A&M University School of Public Health, College Station, Texas, USA.|School of Public Health, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
authors: SangNam
authors: S
authors: Ahn
authors: Texas A&M University School of Public Health, College Station, Texas, USA.
authors: Samuel D
authors: SD
authors: Towne
authors: Texas A&M University School of Public Health, College Station, Texas, USA.
authors: Marcia G
authors: MG
authors: Ory
authors: Department of Health Studies, Texas Woman's University, Denton, Texas, USA.
authors: Mindy A
authors: MA
authors: Menn
authors: College of Health and Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
authors: J D
authors: JD
authors: Chaney
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D063506:Ageism; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ageism; college students; interactions; negative attitudes; older adults