Table 4 Nursing students’ attitudes toward aging (N = 334)
From: Nursing students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward aging and ageism in Palestine
Items | Strongly Disagree % (n) | Disagree % (n) | Slightly Disagree % (n) | Slightly Agree % (n) | Agree % (n) | Strongly Agree % (n) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. It would probably be better if most old people lived in residential units with people of their own age. | 15.6 (52) | 25.7 (86) | 28.1 (94) | 14.7 (49) | 7.8 (26) | 8.1 (27) |
2. It would probably be better if most old people lived in residential units that also housed younger people. | 6.0 (20) | 5.4 (18) | 21.0 (70) | 26.6 (89) | 26.6 (89) | 14.4 (48) |
3. There is something different about most old people: it’s hard to figure out what makes them tick. | 15.0 (50) | 27.5 (92) | 27.2 (91) | 17.4 (58) | 6.6 (22) | 6.3 (21) |
4. Most old people are really no different from anybody else: they’re as easy to understand as younger people. | 6.0 (20) | 7.2 (24) | 18.0 (60) | 30.5 (102) | 23.1 (77) | 15.3 (51) |
5. Most old people get set in their ways and are unable to change. | 15.0 (50) | 23.4 (78) | 35.3 (118) | 15.6 (52) | 4.5 (15) | 6.3 (21) |
6. Most old people are capable of new adjustments when the situation demands it. | 5.1 (17) | 8.1 (27) | 17.1 (57) | 32.9 (110) | 20.7 (69) | 16.2 (54) |
7. Most old people would prefer to quit work as soon as pensions or their children can support them. | 14.7 (49) | 20.7 (69) | 36.8 (123) | 16.8 (56) | 5.4 (18) | 5.7 (19) |
8. Most old people would prefer to continue working just as long as they possibly can rather than be dependent on anybody. | 5.4 (18) | 7.2 (24) | 21.3 (71) | 30.8 (103) | 20.4 (68) | 15.0 (50) |
9. Most old people tend to let their homes become shabby and unattractive. | 12.0 (40) | 19.8 (66) | 27.2 (91) | 21.6 (72) | 12.0 (40) | 7.5 (25) |
10. Most old people can generally be counted on to maintain a clean, attractive home. | 6.3 (21) | 8.4 (28) | 15.0 (50) | 30.8 (103) | 25.4 (85) | 14.1 (47) |
11. It is foolish to claim that wisdom comes with old age. | 13.2 (44) | 19.8 (66) | 30.8 (103) | 21.0 (70) | 9.0 (30) | 6.3 (21) |
12. People grow wiser with the coming of old age. | 6.0 (20) | 6.3 (21) | 18.9 (63) | 32.0 (107) | 24.0 (80) | 12.9 (43) |
13. Old people have too much power in business and politics. | 14.7 (49) | 22.8 (76) | 33.5 (112) | 16.5 (55) | 6.6 (22) | 6.0 (20) |
14. Old people should have more power in business and politics. | 6.6 (22) | 7.5 (25) | 20.4 (68) | 30.2 (101) | 22.8 (76) | 12.6 (42) |
15. Most old people make one feel ill at ease. | 12.6 (42) | 22.5 (75) | 26.6 (89) | 17.7 (59) | 14.1 (47) | 6.6 (22) |
16. Most old people are very relaxing to be with. | 8.4 (28) | 10.5 (35) | 12.9 (43) | 34.1 (114) | 21.9 (73) | 12.3 (41) |
17. Most old people bore others by their insistence on talking about the “good old days.” | 15.0 (50) | 22.5 (75) | 29.9 (100) | 15.3 (51) | 10.5 (35) | 6.9 (23) |
18. One of the most interesting and entertaining qualities of most old people is their accounts of their past experiences. | 7.2 (24) | 8.4 (28) | 15.0 (50) | 31.1 (104) | 22.8 (76) | 15.6 (52) |
19. Most old people spend too much time prying into the affairs of others and giving unsought advice. | 14.4 (48) | 21.9 (73) | 27.5 (92) | 18.3 (61) | 11.1 (37) | 6.9 (23) |
20. Most old people tend to keep to themselves and give advice only when asked. | 6.9 (23) | 11.4 (38) | 20.4 (68) | 28.4 (95) | 19.8 (66) | 13.2 (44) |
21. If old people expect to be liked, their first step is to try to get rid of their irritating faults. | 12.3 (41) | 23.1 (77) | 27.5 (92) | 18.3 (61) | 10.8 (36) | 8.1 (27) |
22. When you think about it, old people have the same faults as anybody else. | 7.2 (24) | 10.8 (36) | 17.4 (58) | 27.8 (93) | 21.9 (73) | 15.0 (50) |
23. In order to maintain a nice residential neighborhood, it would be best if too many old people did not live in it. | 12.6 (42) | 21.3 (71) | 29.3 (98) | 16.2 (54) | 13.2 (44) | 7.5 (25) |
24. You can count on finding a nice residential neighborhood when there is a sizeable number of old people living in it. | 7.2 (24) | 10.8 (36) | 16.5 (55) | 30.8 (103) | 19.8 (66) | 15.0 (50) |
25. There are a few exceptions, but in general most old people are pretty much alike. | 11.7 (39) | 25.1 (84) | 30.2 (101) | 15.0 (50) | 10.2 (34) | 7.8 (26) |
26. It is evident that most old people are very different from one another. | 6.6 (22) | 9.3 (31) | 15.3 (51) | 31.4 (105) | 22.8 (76) | 14.5 (49) |
27. Most old people should be more concerned with their personal appearance; they’re too untidy. | 6.3 (21) | 10.5 (35) | 17.7 (59) | 35.3 (118) | 21.9 (73) | 8.4 (28) |
28. Most old people seem to be quite clean and neat in their personal appearance. | 6.3 (21) | 13.2 (44) | 27.5 (92) | 27.5 (92) | 16.2 (54) | 9.3 (31) |
29. Most old people are irritable, grouchy, and unpleasant. | 8.1 (27) | 14.4 (48) | 26.0 (87) | 29.3 (98) | 14.7 (49) | 7.5 (25) |
30. Most old people are cheerful, agreeable, and good humored. | 3.6 (12) | 6.3 (21) | 15.3 (51) | 36.8 (123) | 27.2 (91) | 10.8 (36) |
31. Most old people are constantly complaining about the behavior of the younger generation. | 7.2 (24) | 10.8 (36) | 17.4 (58) | 29.3 (98) | 24.4 (82) | 11.0 (37) |
32. One seldom hears old people complaining about the behavior of the younger generation. | 12.9 (43) | 21.9 (73) | 31.1 (104) | 20.4 (68) | 7.5 (25) | 6.0 (20) |
33. Most old people make excessive demands for love and reassurance. | 3.0 (10) | 5.4 (18) | 14.4 (48) | 35.3 (118) | 28.4 (95) | 13.2 (44) |
34. Most old people need no more love and reassurance than anyone else. | 9.3 (31) | 16.5 (55) | 27.2 (91) | 27.8 (93) | 14.7 (49) | 4.5 (15) |