Date of Award

2003

Degree Name

Psychology

College

College of Liberal Arts

Type of Degree

M.A.

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Helen Linkey

Second Advisor

Stephen O’Keefe

Third Advisor

Carolyn Suppa

Abstract

Stereotype beliefs, contextual ages, and knowledge on aging of independent and intervention-receiving elderly living in both rural and urban communities and institutions were examined in a convenience sample of 114 participants who were assigned to location and setting. Contextual age is defined as one’s quality of life in regard to environmental, social, and health factors. Participants’ acceptance of stereotypes about the elderly, contextual ages, and knowledge of aging was measured by questionnaires. Results indicated there were no significant differences regarding stereotype acceptance, contextual age, and knowledge of aging between rural and urban elderly. However, differences between community-dwelling and institutionalized elderly were significant at the .01 level. Those living in the community had lower stereotype acceptance levels, lower contextual ages, and greater knowledge of aging than those in institutions.

Subject(s)

Aged.

Aging - Psychological aspects.

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