Social work in public health, cilt.39, ss.36-47, 2024 (SSCI)
This study investigated Turkish health sciences students’ attitudes toward
older adults. Data were collected using Kogan’s Attitudes Toward Old People
Scale (KAOPS). The sample consisted of 369 students from a public university
in Turkey. Participants had low-level positive attitudes toward older adults.
Age, grade level, income, curriculum on old age, and willingness to work for
healthcare institutions and social services for older people affected their
attitudes. Participants’ KAOPS scores differed by desired distance from parents
after marriage, the introduction of a curriculum on old age, and their
willingness to live close to parents after marriage, take elective courses about
old age, volunteer in activities and projects for older adults, and work for
healthcare institutions and/or social services for older adults after graduation.
The curricula should address older adults to improve students’ attitudes
toward them. Policymakers and administrators should evaluate young generations’
attitudes toward older adults and develop policies based on evidence-
based data.