Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing (대한간호학회지)

Korean Society of Nursing Science (한국간호과학회)
권호 표지

Attitudes toward the Elderly among Nursing Students in Korea

  • Kim Jung Hee (Department of Nursing, Inha University) ;
  • Son Gwi-Ryung (School of Nursing, the University of Michigan) ;
  • Algase Donna L. (School of Nursing, the University of Michigan)
  • Published : 2004.12.01
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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.

Keywords

References

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