ERIC Number: EJ1357916
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0360-1277
EISSN: EISSN-1521-0472
Available Date: N/A
Related Factors to Aging-Career Interest: Ageism and Self-Efficacy in the Context of a Life-Span Development Course
Bolling, Callie N.; Graf, Allyson S.
Educational Gerontology, v48 n10 p472-483 2022
The rising number of older adults increases the need for more workers willing and capable of working with the aging population. However, ageism presents a challenging barrier to overcome. This study aimed to determine the relationship between ageism, self-efficacy, and career interest across a semester; the impact of participating in aging-related experiences with older adults was also examined. College students (N = 182) enrolled in a life-span development course had the possibility of engaging in age-related experiences for course credit; out of class aging-related experience was also cataloged. This resulted in four groups: no experience (n = 73); developmental course experience only (n = 40); other age-related experience only (n = 45); and both developmental and other age-related experience (n = 23). Data were collected at the beginning and end of the semester to assess interest in aging-related careers, perceived self-efficacy in working with older adults, and benevolent and hostile ageism. Results revealed that low levels of ageism and high levels of self-efficacy predicted aging-related career interest at the end of the semester. However, there was not a significant interaction between time and aging-related experience, although those with both in and out of class aging-related experience reported significantly higher aging-related career interest. These findings suggest that ageism and self-efficacy should be a focus when trying to increase interest in aging-related careers, but not all aging-related experience is capable of shifting these variables. Course context may matter.
Descriptors: Aging (Individuals), Older Adults, Educational Gerontology, Social Bias, Career Choice, Undergraduate Students, Informal Education, Student Interests, Self Efficacy, Prediction, Correlation, Student Attitudes, Experiential Learning, Measures (Individuals)
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Adult Education; Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A