Trainee clinical psychologists’ attitude towards adults over the age of 65 and their interest to work with older adults – pre-teaching, post-teaching and post-placement

AbstractCare of the elderly will represent a significant proportion of the future practices of current trainee clinical psychologists and yet a reluctance to work with older people has been reported within the profession. Previous research has found that the two most powerful predictors of motivation to work with older adults were attitude toward psychotherapy for older adults and past professional experience in the field (Shmotkin, Nitza & Lomranz, 1992). Clinical psychology trainees’ attitudes towards older adults and intention to work in the area were measured prior to and after their main teaching block on older adults and then six months later, either after an older adult placement or non-older adult placement. For those trainees who had at least a ‘neutral’ experience on an older adult placement, attitudes were significantly more positive post-placement compared to baseline and to the end of the teaching block. In addition, these trainees were more interested, or possibly interested, in working with older adults at the end of placement than at baseline. The stability of attitudes in the non-older adult placement group supported the hypothesis that favourable experience on an older adult placement is important in positively influencing trainees’ attitudes towards this age group. The findings of this study were discussed in relation to previous research.