Examining the Attitudes and Knowledge of Social Work and Nursing Students on Later-Life Sexuality

RESUMECette etude a examine les croyances, les attitudes et les savoirs agistes lies a la sexualite au grand age chez 148 etudiants en sciences infirmieres et 137 etudiants en travail social de premiere annee. Les etudiants ont complete les questionnaires Fraboni Scale of Ageism et Attitudes and Knowledge towards Older Adult's Sexuality Scale, ainsi que des questionnaires portant sur leurs contacts avec des personnes agees, leur education sexuelle et des variables sociodemographiques. Les resultats ont montre que les etudiants en sciences infirmieres avaient des attitudes plus conservatrices envers la sexualite des personnes agees. Les croyances agistes correlaient positivement avec des attitudes plus conservatrices envers la sexualite des personnes agees. Les attitudes conservatrices envers la sexualite des personnes agees etaient negativement correlees avec les connaissances liees a la sexualite au grand age. Les etudiants plus ages avaient davantage de connaissances sur la sexualite des personnes agees et des attitudes plus permissives concernant cet aspect de la sexualite. Les etudiants plus religieux avaient moins de connaissances liees a la sexualite des personnes agees et des attitudes plus conservatrices sur ce sujet. L'education sexuelle recue par les etudiants n'etait pas associee avec leurs attitudes et leurs connaissances liees a la sexualite des personnes agees. Les implications de ces resultats pour l'elaboration de programmes d'education continue sont discutees. ABSTRACTWe examined ageist beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge towards sexuality in later life among 148 nursing students and 137 social work students in their first year of studies. The students completed the Fraboni Scale of Ageism, the Attitudes and Knowledge towards Older Adults' Sexuality Scale, and questionnaires regarding contact with older adults, prior sexual education, and socio-demographics. The results indicated that nursing students have more conservative attitudes towards older adults' sexuality. Ageist beliefs correlated positively with more conservative attitudes towards older adults' sexuality. These conservative attitudes 'were negatively correlated with knowledge about sexuality in later life. Older students have more knowledge about sexuality in later life and more permissive attitudes towards older adults' sexuality. Religious students have less knowledge, and more conservative attitudes, towards older adults' sexuality. Previous sexual education was not associated with the students' attitudes and knowledge towards older adults' sexuality. Implications for designing continuing education programs are discussed.