Predictive model of positive attitudes in Spanish health care students towards older people: assessment and associated factors

Abstract

Background: Attitudes influence how individuals interact toward older people, which in turn impacts the way people care for them. This is a key factor to consider for future health professionals who will frequently work with older individuals. This issue has been approached by simply quantifying these attitudes (negative, neutral, or positive). However, this work aims to not only quantify these attitudes but to study other associated variables and develop a predictive model of positive attitudes toward the older people in a sample of Spanish university students of health care careers. Methods: A total of 338 students were surveyed using a sociodemographic questionnaire and two validated scales: the Spanish versions of the Kogan Scale of Attitudes toward Older People (KAOP) and the Global Assessment of Character Strengths-24 (GACS-24). This study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional, ex post facto design, with data analyzed through correlation and regression techniques to identify predictors of positive attitudes toward older adults. Results: The results exhibited significantly positive attitudes toward older people. The analysis identified “love” (a character strength) and “interest in aging issues” as significant predictors of these attitudes. Conclusions: This study concludes that positive attitudes toward older adults are significantly associated with the character strength of ‘love’ and ‘interest in aging issues,’ highlighting the importance of these variables in shaping attitudes among future health professionals.