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First Year Graduate Social Work Students' Knowledge of and attitude Toward Older Adults
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2003
Year
AgingAgeismSocial PsychologyEducationSocial Work PracticeToward Older AdultsSocial SupportSocial WorkPsychologyAdult LearningHealthy AgingLongevityGerontologySocial SkillsGeriatricsSocial GerontologyApplied Social PsychologyAging Quiz IiAging Semantic DifferentialSociologySocial Work ResearchLater AdulthoodSocial Science EducationMedicineAsd Scales
The present study examined attitudes and knowledge of 96 first year MSW social work students toward older adults using the Aging Semantic Differential (ASD) and the Facts on Aging Quiz II. Results suggest that the sample had limited previous contact with older adults and little knowledge about aging prior to admission. Students reported negative attitudes toward older adults on productivity, adapting to change, independence, and optimism. In multivariate models, male gender and younger student age were both independently predictive of less favorableattitudes toward an older person on the ASD subscales. Previous experiences with older people did not predict attitudes toward older people on all ASD scales.