Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 2011 , Vol 14, Issue 3
DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHOMETRIC EVALUATION OF AGEISM ATTITUDE SCALE AMONG THE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Duygu VEFİKULUÇAY YILMAZ1, Füsun TERZİOĞLU2
1Mersin University, School of Health Nursing Department, Mersin, Türkiye
2Hacettepe University, Faculty of Health Science Department of Women's Health Nursing, Ankara, Türkiye
Introduction: This study was conducted to psychometrically analyze the assessment tool developed to determine university students' attitudes towards ageism. Ageism is a result of society's, family members' and young peoples' negative attitudes in general against elderly individuals and ageing. We think that the scale developed in this study will make a significant contribution to the subject in this field. In this respect, first determining the attitudes of the university students towards ageism would make a contribution to have more positive university students' attitudes and behaviors towards the elderly and ageing.

Materials and Method: The research sample was comprised of one university's students chosen using a size-proportional stratified random sampling method. A total of 500 students (291 female, 209 male) were included in the sample. As the data collection tool, the Ageism Attitude Scale (AAS) has been developed.

Results: The Ageism Attitude Scale contains 23 items and three dimensions (restricting life of the elderly, positive ageism, negative ageism). Statistically significant relationship differences were determined among all survey items (p<0.01). The scale's total internal consistency coefficient (Cronbach alpha) was found to be 0.80.

Conclusion: The findings obtained show that this scale is a valid and reliable instrument at the desired level for determining university students' attitudes towards ageism. Keywords : Aged; Prejudice; Instrumentation