Research Article
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Examination of University Students' Empathy Level, Ageism and Attitudes Towards Old Age: A Social Responsibility Project

Year 2023, Volume: 10 Issue: 18, 42 - 56, 07.07.2023

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the empathy level, ageism, and attitudes of university students towards the elderly. Investigating age discrimination by young individuals in the context of increasing intergenerational interactions is important for creating age-friendly societies. A quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group was used in this study, which was conducted in Istanbul, Turkey. The sample comprised 50 university students, split into the study (n=25) and comparison groups (n=25). The working group participated in workshops that lasted for six months, and the comparison group was not included in any application. The scales (Socio-Demographic Information Form, Empathy Level Determination Scale, Age Discrimination Attitude Scale, Attitude towards the Elderly Scale) were administered to the participants as pre-test and post-test after the project was completed. The analysis of the data obtained in this study was performed with SPSS 26.0, comparison analyzes were performed using t-test and relational analyzes using Pearson correlation. As a result of the research, the positive attitude levels of the students participating in the project towards the elderly were found to be higher than the comparison group. In addition, positive attitude towards the elderly, positive discrimination, emotional reaction and cognitive skill scores were found to be significantly higher in students who stated that they participated in the project. It was determined that the scores of negative attitudes towards the elderly were significantly higher in the participants who stated that they had not participated in the project before. This study contributes to the extant literature by providing new information from a different cultural context and aiding the exploration of the development of different intergenerational interaction practices. Intergenerational interaction programs can help university students develop positive attitudes towards the elderly and reduce instances and beliefs of ageism.

Supporting Institution

Gençlik ve Spor Bakanlığı

Project Number

55325

References

  • Allan L. J., Johnson J. A., & Emerson, S. D. (2014). The role 0f ındividual difference variables in ageism. Personality and Individual Differences, 59, 32-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2013.10.027
  • Aw S, Koh G, Oh YJ et al. (2017). Explaining the continuum of social participation among older adults in singapore: From 'closed doors' to active ageing in multi-ethnic community settings. Journal of Aging Studies, (42), 46–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2017.07.002
  • Augustin, F., & Freshman, B. (2016). The effects of service-learning on college students’ attitudes toward older adults. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 37(2), 123-144. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701960.2015.1079705
  • Barış K, & Çolakoğlu Ö. (2015). Adaptation study of empathy level determination scale. Journal of İnönü University Faculty of Education, 16(1), 17-30. https://doi.org/10.17679/iuefd.16127895
  • Burnes D, Sheppard C, Henderson & C. R. (2019). Interventions to reduce ageism against older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Public Health, 109(8), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2019.305123
  • Decety J. (2020). Empathy in medicine: What ıt is, and how much we really need ıt. The American Journal of Medicine, 133(5), 561-566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2019.12.012
  • Duyan, V., & Gelbal, S. (2013). The Turkish Adaptation Study of the Attitude Towards the Elderly Scale On A Group Of University Students. Turkish Journal of Geriatrics, 16(2).
  • Gutiérrez, M., & Mayordomo, T. (2019). Age discrimination: A comparative study among university students. Acta Colombiana De Psicología, 22(2), 53-69. https://doi.org/10.14718/acp.2019.22.2.4
  • Hall, J. A., Schwartz, R. (2019). Empathy present and future. The Journal of Social Psychology, 159(3), 225-243. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2018.1477442
  • Huo, M., Ng, Y. T., Birditt, K. S., & Fingerman, K. L. (2021). Empathy and coping: Older adults’ ınterpersonal tensions and mood throughout the day. Gerontology, 67(1), 101-111. https://doi.org/10.1159/000511418
  • Jackson, S. E., Hackett, R. A., & Steptoe, A. (2019). associations between age discrimination and health and wellbeing: Cross-sectional and prospective analysis of the english longitudinal study of ageing. The Lancet Public Health, 4(4), 200-208. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(19)30035-0
  • Kanasi E, Ayilavarapu S, & Jones J. (2016). The aging population: Demographics and the biology of aging. Periodontology, 72(1), 13-18. https://doi.org/10.1111/prd.12126
  • Kogan, N. (1961). Attitudes toward old people: The development of a scale and an examination of correlates. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 62(1), 44. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0048053
  • Lawrence, E. J., Shaw, P., Baker, D., Baron-Cohen, S., & David, A. S. (2004). Measuring empathy: Reliability and validity of the empathy quotient. Psychological Medicine, 34(5), 911-920. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291703001624
  • Lee, Y. S., Shin, S. H., & Greiner, P. A. (2015). Can education change attitudes toward aging? A quasi-experimental design with a comparison group. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 5(9), 90-99. https://doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v5n9p90
  • Levy, S. R. (2018). Toward reducing ageism: PEACE (Positive Education About Aging and Contact Experiences) Model. Gerontologist, 58(2), 226-232. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnw116
  • Lowe, L. A., & Medina, V. L. (2010). Service learning collaborations: A formula for reciprocity. Families in Society, 91(2), 127-134. https://doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.3970
  • Lyons, A., Alba, B., Heywood, W. et al. (2018). Experiences of ageism and the mental health of Ooder adults. Aging Ment Health, 22(11), 1456-1464. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2017.1364347
  • Mitrečić, D., Juraj, P. D., Stančin, P. et al. (2020). How to face the aging world–lessons from dementia research. Croatian Medical Journal, 61(2), 139-146. https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2020.61.139
  • Moudatsou, M., Stavropoulou, A., Philalithis, A., & Koukouli S. (2020). The role of empathy in health and social care professionals. Healthcare, 8(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare8010026
  • Stokes, J. E., & Moorman, S. M. (2020). Sticks and Stones: Perceived age discrimination, well-being and health over a 20-year period. Research on Aging, 42(3-4), 115-125. https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027519894875
  • Sun, Q., Lou, V. W., Dai, A., To, C., & Wong, S. Y. (2019). The effectiveness of the young–old link and growth ıntergenerational program in reducing age stereotypes. Research on Social Work Practice, 29(5), 519-528. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731518767319
  • Wu, L. L. (2011). A cross-sectional survey of student nurses’ attitudes and knowledge about older people. Chinese Journal of Gerontology, 31(5), 848-850. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42379-018-0008-x
  • Wu, J., & Li, J. (2018). The impact of social participation on older people’s death risk: An analysis from CLHLS. China Population and Development Studies, 2(2), 173-185. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42379-018-0008-x
  • Zhong, S., Lee, C., Foster, M. J., & Bian, J. (2020). Intergenerational communities: A systematic literature review of ıntergenerational ınteractions and older adults health-related outcomes. Social Science & Medicine, 264, 113374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113374
Year 2023, Volume: 10 Issue: 18, 42 - 56, 07.07.2023

Abstract

Project Number

55325

References

  • Allan L. J., Johnson J. A., & Emerson, S. D. (2014). The role 0f ındividual difference variables in ageism. Personality and Individual Differences, 59, 32-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2013.10.027
  • Aw S, Koh G, Oh YJ et al. (2017). Explaining the continuum of social participation among older adults in singapore: From 'closed doors' to active ageing in multi-ethnic community settings. Journal of Aging Studies, (42), 46–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2017.07.002
  • Augustin, F., & Freshman, B. (2016). The effects of service-learning on college students’ attitudes toward older adults. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 37(2), 123-144. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701960.2015.1079705
  • Barış K, & Çolakoğlu Ö. (2015). Adaptation study of empathy level determination scale. Journal of İnönü University Faculty of Education, 16(1), 17-30. https://doi.org/10.17679/iuefd.16127895
  • Burnes D, Sheppard C, Henderson & C. R. (2019). Interventions to reduce ageism against older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Public Health, 109(8), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2019.305123
  • Decety J. (2020). Empathy in medicine: What ıt is, and how much we really need ıt. The American Journal of Medicine, 133(5), 561-566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2019.12.012
  • Duyan, V., & Gelbal, S. (2013). The Turkish Adaptation Study of the Attitude Towards the Elderly Scale On A Group Of University Students. Turkish Journal of Geriatrics, 16(2).
  • Gutiérrez, M., & Mayordomo, T. (2019). Age discrimination: A comparative study among university students. Acta Colombiana De Psicología, 22(2), 53-69. https://doi.org/10.14718/acp.2019.22.2.4
  • Hall, J. A., Schwartz, R. (2019). Empathy present and future. The Journal of Social Psychology, 159(3), 225-243. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2018.1477442
  • Huo, M., Ng, Y. T., Birditt, K. S., & Fingerman, K. L. (2021). Empathy and coping: Older adults’ ınterpersonal tensions and mood throughout the day. Gerontology, 67(1), 101-111. https://doi.org/10.1159/000511418
  • Jackson, S. E., Hackett, R. A., & Steptoe, A. (2019). associations between age discrimination and health and wellbeing: Cross-sectional and prospective analysis of the english longitudinal study of ageing. The Lancet Public Health, 4(4), 200-208. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(19)30035-0
  • Kanasi E, Ayilavarapu S, & Jones J. (2016). The aging population: Demographics and the biology of aging. Periodontology, 72(1), 13-18. https://doi.org/10.1111/prd.12126
  • Kogan, N. (1961). Attitudes toward old people: The development of a scale and an examination of correlates. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 62(1), 44. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0048053
  • Lawrence, E. J., Shaw, P., Baker, D., Baron-Cohen, S., & David, A. S. (2004). Measuring empathy: Reliability and validity of the empathy quotient. Psychological Medicine, 34(5), 911-920. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291703001624
  • Lee, Y. S., Shin, S. H., & Greiner, P. A. (2015). Can education change attitudes toward aging? A quasi-experimental design with a comparison group. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 5(9), 90-99. https://doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v5n9p90
  • Levy, S. R. (2018). Toward reducing ageism: PEACE (Positive Education About Aging and Contact Experiences) Model. Gerontologist, 58(2), 226-232. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnw116
  • Lowe, L. A., & Medina, V. L. (2010). Service learning collaborations: A formula for reciprocity. Families in Society, 91(2), 127-134. https://doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.3970
  • Lyons, A., Alba, B., Heywood, W. et al. (2018). Experiences of ageism and the mental health of Ooder adults. Aging Ment Health, 22(11), 1456-1464. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2017.1364347
  • Mitrečić, D., Juraj, P. D., Stančin, P. et al. (2020). How to face the aging world–lessons from dementia research. Croatian Medical Journal, 61(2), 139-146. https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2020.61.139
  • Moudatsou, M., Stavropoulou, A., Philalithis, A., & Koukouli S. (2020). The role of empathy in health and social care professionals. Healthcare, 8(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare8010026
  • Stokes, J. E., & Moorman, S. M. (2020). Sticks and Stones: Perceived age discrimination, well-being and health over a 20-year period. Research on Aging, 42(3-4), 115-125. https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027519894875
  • Sun, Q., Lou, V. W., Dai, A., To, C., & Wong, S. Y. (2019). The effectiveness of the young–old link and growth ıntergenerational program in reducing age stereotypes. Research on Social Work Practice, 29(5), 519-528. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731518767319
  • Wu, L. L. (2011). A cross-sectional survey of student nurses’ attitudes and knowledge about older people. Chinese Journal of Gerontology, 31(5), 848-850. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42379-018-0008-x
  • Wu, J., & Li, J. (2018). The impact of social participation on older people’s death risk: An analysis from CLHLS. China Population and Development Studies, 2(2), 173-185. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42379-018-0008-x
  • Zhong, S., Lee, C., Foster, M. J., & Bian, J. (2020). Intergenerational communities: A systematic literature review of ıntergenerational ınteractions and older adults health-related outcomes. Social Science & Medicine, 264, 113374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113374
There are 25 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Psychology
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Zeynep Gümüş Demir

Project Number 55325
Early Pub Date July 8, 2023
Publication Date July 7, 2023
Published in Issue Year 2023 Volume: 10 Issue: 18

Cite

APA Gümüş Demir, Z. (2023). Examination of University Students’ Empathy Level, Ageism and Attitudes Towards Old Age: A Social Responsibility Project. Uluslararası Davranış, Sürdürülebilirlik Ve Yönetim Dergisi, 10(18), 42-56.