Group-based differences in anti-aging bias among medical students

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Gerontology
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Ageist attitudes can form early in medical training.
• These attitudes may influence future practice patterns, particularly regarding geriatric care.
• Understanding these biases is crucial for improving healthcare for older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate explicit and implicit anti-aging bias in medical students.
• To examine the relationship between these biases and the intent to practice with older adults.
• To identify differences based on gender, race, and motivation.

Main Methods:

• 103 medical students completed an online survey.
• The survey included explicit and implicit measures of anti-aging bias.
• The quad model was used to analyze controlled and automatic processes.

Main Results:

• Explicit measures showed moderately positive perceptions of older adults.
• Female students and those with high internal motivation exhibited lower anti-aging bias.
• These groups also showed a greater intent to practice with older populations.
• Implicit measures indicated more negativity toward the elderly than explicit measures, but without group differences.
• The quad model revealed gender, race, and motivation-based differences in controlled and automatic bias processes.

Conclusions:

• Medical students' attitudes towards aging are complex, with variations in explicit and implicit biases.
• Gender and internal motivation are significant factors influencing anti-aging bias and intent to care for older adults.
• Targeted interventions addressing both explicit and implicit biases may be necessary to encourage geriatric care among future physicians.