Abstract
The rapidly growing aging population highlights the need for social workers trained in gerontological practice and interested in work with older adults. This study, conducted in two southern states, examined recent social work graduates' perceptions of aging-related work and identified factors influencing their employment in aging related jobs. One-quarter of the graduates were employed in aging-related work. Logistics regression analysis revealed that aging-related skills, belief that work with older adults would be depressing, and having taken an undergraduate gerontology class were significant in predicting employment in aging-related jobs. Implications for social work education as well as directions for future research are discussed.
Notes
a 1 = Never, 5 = most of the time.
b 1 = Poor, 5 = very good.
c 1 = Not at all, 4 = very much.
d 1 = Strongly agree, 5 = strongly disagree.
∗p < .05
∗∗p < .001
∗∗∗p < .0001.
Nagelkerke R 2 − .337.