Social Work and Criminal Justice Students' Perceptions of Elders

Abstract

This study investigated perceptions of older adults among undergraduate social work and criminal justice students (N = 228). With moderately ageist attitudes in general toward older adults and controlling for ethno-cultural identification and previous gerontology education, there were significant differences in the perceptions of social work and criminal justice students in ten of twelve dependent variables. These significant variables included perceptions of elders as unmotivated and parsimonious, perceptions of elders as attractive, perceptions of elders as useful, perceptions of elders' health, perceptions of elders' ability to drive, perceptions of elders as romantic, willingness to be with elders, willingness to work with elders if the job required it, perceptions of elders' right to suicide, and perceptions of elders engaging in sexual behaviors. While generally ageist in perspective, there were not significant differences between the two students groups regarding their perceptions of elders as depressed and their working with elders if they were paid a greater salary. The General Linear Model was found to be significant (F = 5.565, df = 12, p < .001). Because of the prevalence of moderately ageist perceptions in this sample, there are important implications for interdisciplinary human service education. Social work education may offer helpful methods to reduce ageist perceptions, particularly exposure in field settings and concentrated attention to aging in curricula. Other implications and strategies are discussed.

Key Words:

• aging
• perceptions of elders
• older persons
• Ageism