Positive and negative aging stereotypes among Chinese medical students: A latent profile analysis.
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| Title: | Positive and negative aging stereotypes among Chinese medical students: A latent profile analysis. |
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| Authors: | Zhang, Xiaocong (AUTHOR), Ji, Wenfei (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Educational Gerontology. Mar2026, Vol. 52 Issue 3, p289-301. 13p. |
| Subjects: | Attitudes toward aging, Cross-sectional method, Statistical correlation, Stereotypes, Research funding, Medical education, Cronbach's alpha, Questionnaires, Health occupations students, Research evaluation, Multiple regression analysis, Descriptive statistics, Research, Cluster sampling, One-way analysis of variance, Psychology of medical students, Student attitudes, Data analysis software, Intergenerational relations |
| Geographic Terms: | China |
| Abstract: | Aging stereotypes held by medical students significantly shape their attitudes and behaviors toward older adults, potentially impacting future healthcare systems for this demographic. This study explored aging stereotypes among Chinese medical students using Latent Profile Analysis (LPA), focusing on the factors contributing to different stereotype profiles. Data were collected via questionnaires completed by 899 Chinese medical students. LPA identified three distinct profiles: Profile 1, the Indifferent Group (66.19%), characterized by relatively low scores of positive and negative aging stereotypes; Profile 2, the Contradictory Group (9.90%), marked by the highest scores for both positive and negative aging stereotypes; and Profile 3, the Friendly Group (23.91%), distinguished by high positive and low negative aging stereotype scores. These profiles reflect varying combinations of positive and negative aging stereotypes. The multinomial analysis revealed that medical students who were older, perceived higher realistic threats from older adults, had lower quality contact with them, and had limited knowledge of aging were more likely to belong to the Indifferent Group. In addition, those who were older, perceived higher realistic and symbolic threats from older adults, and had less contact with them were more likely to be in the Contradictory group. To effectively foster positive aging stereotypes and mitigate negative ones among medical students, it is recommended that positive aging education and intergenerational contact programs be incorporated into medical education. Such efforts should aim to help students accurately recognize the contributions and value of older adults while promoting meaningful intergenerational interactions between medical students and older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | Aging stereotypes held by medical students significantly shape their attitudes and behaviors toward older adults, potentially impacting future healthcare systems for this demographic. This study explored aging stereotypes among Chinese medical students using Latent Profile Analysis (LPA), focusing on the factors contributing to different stereotype profiles. Data were collected via questionnaires completed by 899 Chinese medical students. LPA identified three distinct profiles: Profile 1, the Indifferent Group (66.19%), characterized by relatively low scores of positive and negative aging stereotypes; Profile 2, the Contradictory Group (9.90%), marked by the highest scores for both positive and negative aging stereotypes; and Profile 3, the Friendly Group (23.91%), distinguished by high positive and low negative aging stereotype scores. These profiles reflect varying combinations of positive and negative aging stereotypes. The multinomial analysis revealed that medical students who were older, perceived higher realistic threats from older adults, had lower quality contact with them, and had limited knowledge of aging were more likely to belong to the Indifferent Group. In addition, those who were older, perceived higher realistic and symbolic threats from older adults, and had less contact with them were more likely to be in the Contradictory group. To effectively foster positive aging stereotypes and mitigate negative ones among medical students, it is recommended that positive aging education and intergenerational contact programs be incorporated into medical education. Such efforts should aim to help students accurately recognize the contributions and value of older adults while promoting meaningful intergenerational interactions between medical students and older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 03601277 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/03601277.2025.2490013 |
