ABSTRACT

Negative stereotypes about older adults are increasing and contributing to a shortage of professionals in gerontology. Building on the PEACE model (Positive Education about Aging and Contact Experiences), two experiments used education to address stereotypes associated with older adults. Participants were randomly assigned to read brief articles that: challenged stereotypes about older adults (condition 1), challenged stereotypes about careers working with older adults (condition 2), challenged both stereotypes (condition 3), or described careers in general (control; condition 4). In Study 1, 399 undergraduates in all 3 experimental conditions (vs. control participants) reported lower levels of ageism, more positive age perceptions, and more aging knowledge in an immediate and delayed (1–2 weeks) post-test. In Study 2, 446 national community participants (ages 18– 25) in all experimental conditions (vs. control participants) reported greater positive age perceptions, aging knowledge, and interest in psychology and social work careers with older adults in an immediate post-test. These findings highlight the promise of using brief online methods to challenge stereotypes, provide more positive and accurate views of aging and older adults, and increase interest in careers working with older adults. Implications are discussed.

摘要

对老年人的负面刻板印象正在增加，并导致老年学专业人士短缺。在 PEACE 模型（关于老龄化和接触体验的积极教育）的基础上，两个实验使用教育来解决与老年人相关的刻板印象。参与者被随机分配阅读简短的文章：挑战关于老年人的刻板印象（条件 1），挑战关于与老年人一起工作的职业的刻板印象（条件 2），挑战两种刻板印象（条件 3），或描述一般职业（控制；条件） 4）。在研究 1 中，所有 3 个实验条件下的 399 名本科生（与对照组参与者相比）报告说，在即刻和延迟（1-2 周）后测试中，年龄歧视程度较低，年龄观念更加积极，并且老化知识更多。在研究 2 中，在所有实验条件下（与对照参与者相比），446 名全国社区参与者（18-25 岁）报告了更积极的年龄认知、老龄化知识以及对老年人心理学和社会工作职业的兴趣，在立即进行的后测中。这些发现强调了使用简短的在线方法来挑战刻板印象、提供对老龄化和老年人更积极和准确的看法以及增加对与老年人一起工作的职业的兴趣的前景。影响进行了讨论。提供对老龄化和老年人更积极和准确的看法，并增加对与老年人一起工作的职业的兴趣。影响进行了讨论。提供对老龄化和老年人更积极和准确的看法，并增加对与老年人一起工作的职业的兴趣。影响进行了讨论。