"Aging Is Beautiful and Graceful:" Exploring College Students' Perceptions of Aging, Older Adults, and Future Older Selves

Autor/inn/en	Ekwonye, Angela U.; Malek, Abigail; Farah, Iqra; Nguyen, Stephanie; Chonyi, Tenzin; Ponce-Diaz, Valerie; Hearst, Mary
Titel	"Aging Is Beautiful and Graceful:" Exploring College Students' Perceptions of Aging, Older Adults, and Future Older Selves
Quelle	In: Educational Gerontology, 49 (2023) 9, S.803-816 (14 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Ekwonye, Angela U.)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0360-1277
DOI	10.1080/03601277.2022.2164642
Schlagwörter	Aging (Individuals); College Students; Student Attitudes; Older Adults; Self Concept; Attitude Change; Cultural Differences + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Aging; Altern; Collegestudent; Schülerverhalten; Älterer Erwachsener; Selbstkonzept; Attitudinal change; Einstellungsänderung; Kultureller Unterschied
Abstract	Perception of one's own age and the aging process can influence healthy aging and encourage younger adults to be more proactive in taking care of themselves. There is a shortage of literature on college students' self-perceptions of aging and old age. This descriptive qualitative study explored how short-term aging research training and activities influenced college students' perceptions of aging, older adults, and their future older selves. Students were exposed to discussions about aging, the aging process, myths, a brief TED talk, and a video on positive age stereotypes in preparation for their encounter with older adults in a more extensive photovoice aging research project. Data for the study were collected using weekly guided reflections and drawing. Findings show that college students improved perceptions of aging and older adults after the short-term research training. We found cultural differences in self-perception of the onset of old age. Students perceived healthy aging in terms of biological, psychological, spiritual, and social dimensions of health. Students presented a hopeful, positive picture of their future older self as opposed to the negative stereotypic views they initially had of older adults. Reflections on one's own aging may be crucial in encouraging younger adults to be more proactive in taking care of themselves for a healthier life in later adulthood. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01