J Korean Acad Nurs.  2004 Dec;34(8):1499-1508.

Attitudes toward the Elderly among Nursing Students in Korea

• Kim JH
• Son GR
• Algase DL

Abstract

PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this study was to reexamine underlying dimensions of attitudes toward the elderly held by undergraduate nursing students. A secondary purpose was to investigate characteristics of nursing students associated with attitudes toward elders. METHODS: A survey was performed using self-report questionnaire completed by nursing students from a total of 10 nursing schools or departments each selected randomly from one province of Korea. Students' responses (N=366) were analyzed using factor analysis, correlation coefficients, t-test, and ANOVA. RESULTS: Three attitudinal dimensions explaining 35.29% of the variance were extracted: vitality, generosity and flexibility. From a neutral point of 4.0 in the range of 1 to 7, only generosity (4.47) was evaluated positively, whereas vitality (3.31) and flexibility (2.91) were evaluated negatively. The mean scores of the vitality and generosity dimensions were significantly different by students' level of communication with the elderly, experience living with the elderly, and interest in elders or in issues related to elders. Interest in elders/elder issues was the only characteristic affecting significant mean score difference in flexibility. CONCLUSION: Educational process should increase students' exposure to healthy elderly to modify negative attitudes toward the elderly among nursing students.

Keyword

Attitude; Aged; Nursing students; Factor analysis

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
*Aged
Analysis of Variance
*Attitude of Health Personnel
Communication
Cross-Sectional Studies
*Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate/standards
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Female
Geriatric Nursing/education
*Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Korea
Male
Negativism
Nursing Education Research
Nursing Methodology Research
*Prejudice
Questionnaires
Residence Characteristics/statistics & numerical data
Stereotyping
Students, Nursing/*psychology