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There is heightened concern today among social work professionals that as increasing numbers of baby-boomers turn age sixty-five, the number of social work students interested in pursuing a career in gerontological social work will not keep pace with the increased demand on social services. This research sought to measure the attitudes and knowledge MSW students currently possess towards working with the aging population. The results of this study indicate that students possessed positive attitudes towards older adults as evidenced by their answers to Palmore's Facts on Aging Quiz. However, despite possessing positive attitudes towards older adults, a majority of students are opting not to pursue a career in gerontological social work practice.
Social Work Practice With Older Adults by Jill Chonody and Barbra Teater presents a contemporary framework based on the World Health Organization’s active aging policy that allows forward-thinking students to focus on client strengths and resources when working with the elderly. The Actively Aging framework takes into account health, social, behavioral, economic, and personal factors as they relate to aging, but also explores environmental issues, which supports the new educational standards put forth by the Council on Social Work Education. Covering micro, mezzo, and macro practice domains, the text examines all aspects of working with aging populations, from assessment through termination.
The purpose of the present study was to identify the linkages among educational variables, and positive attitudes toward older adults and interest in gerontology, among masters' level social work students. Purposive and convenience sampling techniques were employed to recruit students from the eight CSWE accredited social work programs in the state of Florida. Four programs (50%) agreed to participate, and data collection took place in the fall of 2006. An aggregate sample of 252 MSW students took part in in-class surveys regarding their attitudes toward older adults, and interest in careers in gerontology following graduation. Students were surveyed regarding the level of gerontology content in MSW curriculum, practicum experience with older adults, perceptions of elder vulnerability to crime, and perceptions of self-efficacy to work with older adults. The research findings indicated that a majority of the sample did not perceive MSW curriculum to have sufficient content on aging issues. Bivariate and multiple regression analysis were used to examine the effect of curriculum content, practicum experience, perceptions of elder vulnerability to crime, and perceived self-efficacy on the dependent variables of attitude toward older adults and interest in gerontology. Results showed curriculum content had a low to moderate positive correlation to students' attitudes toward older adults, but no relation to interest in gerontology. Experience employing practice skills with older adult clients in field practicum showed a moderate to high correlation to interest in working with elders, but was not correlated with attitudes toward older adults. Students' self-efficacy to work with older adults showed the strongest positive correlation to interest, and a low to moderate association with attitude. Self-efficacy also showed the highest predictive power with regard to interest in geriatric social work following graduation. Students' perceptions of elder vulnerability to crime showed no relationship to either dependent variable. The findings suggest that perceptions of self-efficacy to intervene with elders are particularly important with regard to attitudes toward elderly clients, and willingness to work with them. Based on the results of this study the author developed a model of social work education to enhance students' self-efficacy to work with multigenerational client systems.
This open access book provides a comprehensive perspective on the concept of ageism, its origins, the manifestation and consequences of ageism, as well as ways to respond to and research ageism. The book represents a collaborative effort of researchers from over 20 countries and a variety of disciplines, including, psychology, sociology, gerontology, geriatrics, pharmacology, law, geography, design, engineering, policy and media studies. The contributors have collaborated to produce a truly stimulating and educating book on ageism which brings a clear overview of the state of the art in the field. The book serves as a catalyst to generate research, policy and public interest in the field of ageism and to reconstruct the image of old age and will be of interest to researchers and students in gerontology and geriatrics.
This study of undergraduate and graduate social work students' attitudes toward aging was completed at two private Christian universities in west central Texas. Palmore's Facts on Aging Quiz 1 in multiple choice format was administered to 89 students along with a demographic information questionnaire. The findings of the study conclude that these students possess negative biases and attitudes toward aging. Although many students had previous or current experience with elderly people, only eight expressed a desire to pursue gerontological social work after graduation. Based on previous research, education programs that included an aging focus reduce these negative opinions and increase interest in the field of gerontology. While there is a need for aging education, the level of contact or quality of experience students have with elderly does warrant further research.