Undergraduates’ attitudes toward older adults and aging careers following aging-related content in lifespan and gerontology courses

Abstract

Background

Demographic trends indicate a significant need for trained health care professionals to serve older adults. However, previous research has not consistently shown whether exposure to aging-related material in post-secondary coursework increases or decreases interest in these careers.

Aim

This study examined undergraduate gerontology and lifespan development students’ interest in aging-related careers and perceptions of the aging process and older adults at the beginning and end of the semester. Both within-course and between-course changes in student attitudes following aging-related coursework were investigated.

Methods

The study used a pre-/post-test survey design.

Results

At post-test, students endorsed more multifaceted and positive views of aging and older adults, but did not consistently express increased interest in aging-related careers. Gerontology students were more likely to report increased interest in aging-related careers than lifespan students, but this difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Exposing undergraduates to information about aging may improve perceptions of older adults, but be insufficient to increase interest in aging-related careers. More active learning strategies and exposure to career-specific information may be needed for that purpose.