Ageism toward older adults among social education students: the impact of a photovoice program

ABSTRACT

This study describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of a photovoice program for Social Education students from a Polytechnic University in Portugal. The program was named ‘Ageism in Perspective’ and developed over six sessions during one semester. The design was based on principles of the original photovoice methodology, along with previous experiences of photovoice as an active and experiential learning methodology in higher education. Implementation included theoretical-pedagogical and ethical activities about the methodology (photovoice) and the topic under exploration (ageism). It went practically-technologically through the process of taking and presenting photographs in the group/classes, ending with a seminar and exhibition open to the community to share the main findings. Evaluation included a pre-posttest approach using the Negative Stereotypes Toward Aging Questionnaire (CENVE) and a final focus group addressing students’ overall experience with the program, the photovoice approach, and the impact on their perspectives about ageism. Participants (n = 45; mean age of 21.1, SD 4.1) were students of the second year in the degree course of Social Education. There was a statistically significant decrease in the CENVE score between the pre (30.1 ± 7.3) and the post (21.5 ± 4.0) test, meaning lower stereotypes after the program. Emerging themes from the focus group thematic analysis were (i) I am more willing to interact with older adults; (ii) Photovoice booster multiple perspectives and reflexivity; (iii) Becoming aware that ageism exists (even in myself). Findings suggest that photovoice is a good pedagogical tool to address students’ stereotypes about older adults, which should be as important as addressing the syllabus content.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the students who have participated in the project for their collaboration.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics statement

The approval was provided by the Ethics Committee of the Institute Polytechnic of Viseu (reference: Nº 12/SUB/2022).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The project described was supported by the National Funds through Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) within the CINTESIS R&D Unit [reference UIDB/4255/2020].