Date of Award
1997
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Art
First Advisor
Marilyn Patterson
Second Advisor
Pamela Nickels
Third Advisor
Javed Qasim
Abstract
Advances in research on attitudes towards older adults can productively be applied to the problem of professional ageism. In this study a group of 50 mental health professionals ranging in age from 19-65 with 21 being male and 29 being female responded to a questionnaire entitled Aging Opinion Survey. This survey requested the subjects' opinions concerning three topics: stereotypic decrement, personal anxiety towards aging, and social value of the elderly. This was matched with their level of training in gerontology and contact with this population. ln general, subjects with higher levels of contact and training had a more positive opinion of older adults. Therefore education about normal life span development and attention to how the public climate affects service delivery is recommended.
Recommended Citation
Nachtmann, Kristen Lyn, "Effects of Training and Contact on Decreasing Ageism in Mental Health Professionals" (1997). Theses. 269.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/theses/269
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