Effectiveness of multiple interventions based on the Positive Education about Aging and Contact Experiences model on the attitudes towards older adults among students.

Abstract

Attitudes towards older adults can affect their health and quality of life. Evidence shows that the most negative attitudes have been observed among adolescents and young adults. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of a multi-intervention based on the Positive Education about Aging and Contact Experiences (PEACE) model on the students' attitudes towards older adults. This interventional study involved 100 male and female students from Naein City, Isfahan Province, Iran, selected through a multi-stage random sampling method. The participants were randomly divided into two groups (control group, n = 50 and intervention group, n = 50). The intervention employed a variety of methods based on the PEACE model. This study's assessment comprised three stages: pre-intervention, immediate post-intervention, and a 4-month post-intervention (follow-up). After the intervention, the attitude, appreciation, and prejudice dimensions scores in the intervention group were significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.001). In follow-up, no significant difference was observed in the attitude scores between the control and intervention groups (P = 0.974). Applying various strategies derived from the PEACE model has significantly shaped students' attitudes towards older adults.