Assessing attitudes toward older adults and interest in gerontology among social work students

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.