Type of Document Dissertation Author Roberts, Jane Author's Email Address jroberts@vt.edu URN etd-12102002-153448 Title Ethics Adherence as a Predictor of Age Bias in Social Work Practice with Older Adults Degree PhD Department Human Development Advisory Committee
Advisor Name Title Blieszner, Rosemary Committee Chair Mancini, Jay A. Committee Member Piercy, Fred P. Committee Member Roberto, Karen A. Committee Member Teaster, Pamela B. Committee Member Keywords
- ageism
- age bias
- prejudice
- ethics
Date of Defense 2002-12-04 Availability unrestricted Abstract
Jane Roberts Abstract
The purpose of this study was the examination of age bias in social work professionals
who have direct and influential contact with a growing segment of the population:
older adults. Those who work most closely with older people may be at risk for
age bias, although much of the research on age bias has been conducted with students
rather than with those who work with older people. This study adds to the research
on prejudice; the sources from which attitudes, values, prejudices, and stereotypical
thinking arise were addressed. Key experiences with older individuals were found
to predict age bias. Because social work ethical principles closely align with
conditions known to reduce prejudice, it was hypothesized that higher ethics adherence
would be associated with less age bias. Specific experiential factors were found
to influence prejudice toward older people. Influences from family beliefs and
from television and other media were associated with a non-biased attitude, as
were influences from caregiving to older people. These sources of one's values
and beliefs about older individuals were also found to predict the extent of one's
knowledge of aging processes. Although ethics adherence was not a predictor of
age bias, the discovery of the influence of family beliefs, media portrayals,
and caregiving experiences revealed a need for awareness of ageist beliefs in
a professional population that works extensively with older adults.