EFFECTIVENESS OF A WORKSHOP ON AGING IN CHANGING MIDDLE‐AGED ADULTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARD THE AGED

Abstract

This study focused on the question of whether middle‐aged adults’ attitudes toward the aged could be changed through participation in specially designed educational experiences. It was expected that the adults participating in this study would hold negative attitudes toward older persons, but the pretest showed that they held slightly positive attitudes. “Purpose in life” was the only variable significantly related to pretest scores. The adults’ attitudes toward older persons changed significantly in a positive direction following the workshop experience, while those in the control group decreased. It was concluded the workshop had a significant impact on these differences.