Connecting Generations: University Programming
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Abstract
Ageism is making stereotypes, prejudiced remarks or opinions, and discriminating against other individuals based on their age. This is often directed at older people. Ageism has a negative impact on oneself and society. It affects people's physical and mental health and leads to social isolation, lower quality of life and premature death. Professors at Wichita State University (WSU) aim to address ageism. They are researching students' attitudes and opinions of older adults. There is a course for intergenerational studies, which is a freshman seminar. There is another course where students lead older people in exercise while being supervised. This freshman seminar is for inter-generational studies, it brings young and older people together to participate in meaningful activities together to reduce prejudice and build a better understanding and respect between different generations. The purpose of this study is to measure students' attitudes by the "Attitudes towards Aging Scale", part of a subscale of the "Psychological Growth Scale". Using the "Expectations Regarding Scale", expectations are measured. Students wrote five adjectives to describe older adults. The course is to reduce ageism and give an insight to causes and results of ageism. The students in WSU intergenerational class attitudes will change to be more positive towards older adults based on the post survey.
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Research project completed at the Department of Public Health Sciences.