Self-Reported Ageism in Social Work Practitioners and Students |
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| Authors: | Priscilla D Allen Katie E Cherry Erdman Palmore |
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| Institution: | 1. Louisiana State University School of Social Work, and Life Course and Aging Center , Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA pallen2@lsu.edu;3. Department of Psychology , Louisiana State University, and Life Course and Aging Center , Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA;4. Duke Medical Center , Duke University , Durham, North Carolina, USA |
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| Abstract: | In this study, we focus on self-reported ageism in college students and social service providers using the Relating to Older People Evaluation (ROPE; Cherry & Palmore, 2008 Cherry, K. E. and Palmore, E. B. 2008. Relating to Older People Evaluation (ROPE): A measure of self–reported ageism. Educational Gerontology, 34: 849–861. Taylor & Francis Online], Web of Science ®] , Google Scholar]). The ROPE is a 20-item questionnaire that measures positive and negative ageist behaviors that people engage in during everyday life. Participants included undergraduate and graduate social work students and practicing social service providers in the nursing home and mental health setting. Findings indicate that people of varying educational backgrounds and occupational experience in social services readily admit to positive ageist behaviors. Item analyses revealed similarities and differences between groups in the most and least frequent forms of ageism endorsed. Ageism as a social phenomenon with implications related to social work policy and practice is discussed. |
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| Keywords: | Ageism discrimination gerontological social work |
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