An Examination of University Students’ Attitudes Toward Older Adults According to Certain Variables

Abstract

The main objective of this research was to examine the factors influencing university students' attitudes towards age discrimination. Within this framework, the socio-demographic characteristics of the students, whether they took courses on aging, and the effects of positive and negative discrimination towards the elderly were investigated. This study used a quantitative research method. Research data were collected from students at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University’s Seydikemer School of Applied Sciences and Fethiye Faculty of Health Sciences during the 2024-2025 academic year. A total of 306 students participated in the study. SPSS and Jamovi software packages were used for data analysis. The mean total score on the Ageism Attitude Scale was 81.74 ± 9.20, indicating that the students generally held positive attitudes toward older adults. The analyses revealed that female students had more positive attitudes towards age discrimination than male students. Similarly, students who took courses on aging and those planning to live with their parents in the coming years had higher total age discrimination scores and higher scores on the subdimensions of limiting the life of the elderly and positive discrimination towards the elderly. In contrast, students' income level, family type, and class level did not significantly affect their attitudes towards age discrimination.