Gerontological education: Course and experiential differences across academic colleges

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Higher Education Studies
• Social Psychology

Background:

• The global population is aging rapidly, with older adults expected to triple by 2030, necessitating a knowledgeable workforce.
• Student attitudes toward aging significantly influence their interest in aging-related careers.
• Postsecondary institutions can enhance aging knowledge and intergenerational learning, but data on diverse student samples are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in undergraduate students' attitudes toward older adults across various academic colleges.
• To compare aging-related coursework and experiences among students from different academic disciplines.
• To identify key factors influencing students' attitudes toward aging.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was administered to 816 undergraduate students from all academic colleges at a single university.
• Data collected included students' attitudes toward older adults, academic major, and exposure to aging-related content.
• Statistical analyses were performed to examine differences and identify associated factors.

Main Results:

• Significant variations in attitudes toward older adults were found across academic colleges.
• Students in the College of Human Sciences demonstrated more favorable stereotype, separation, and affective attitudes.
• Factors such as sex, academic college, perception of "old," contact frequency, and desire for aging content influenced attitudes.

Conclusions:

• Academic discipline is a significant factor in shaping students' attitudes toward aging.
• Educational interventions should be tailored to specific academic disciplines to improve attitudes toward older adults.
• Promoting interdisciplinary and disciplinary-specific learning experiences can foster more positive aging-related attitudes.