Using the Internet to Facilitate Positive Attitudes of College Students Toward Aging and Working with Older Adults

Published data suggest that a preponderance of negative attitudes toward the elderly and insufficient knowledge of aging may be the primary reasons that geriatrics is not the primary choice of employment for nurses. This study measured attitude changes toward the elderly as a result of participation by nursing, gerontology and health science students in an intergenerational reciprocal service-learning program. Using a pre and posttest design, results revealed a significant improvement (p < .001) for the total group, with undergraduates showing a significantly greater mean increase in positive attitudes toward the elderly (p < .001). This study suggests that pairing students with well elderly and engaging in on-going exposure, meaningful intergenerational exchanges and using Internet-based activities to communicate are effective strategies to improve attitudes of students toward the elderly.