ORCID ID
0000-0002-3329-9286
Date Awarded
Summer 2018
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Department
Education
Advisor
Charles R McAdams
Committee Member
Thomas J Ward
Committee Member
Patrick R Mullen
Abstract
This research study served to examine factors that may contribute to and mediate masters-level counseling students interest in working with older adults. A review of literature on factors related to counselors’ interest in working with older adults established potential relationships between Contact Knowledge of aging, Attitudes/Ageism (expected to be a negative correlation), Counseling Older Adult Self-efficacy (COASE) and Interest in working with older adults. Based on the Social Cognitive Career Theory, COASE was predicted to be impacted by Contact measures and correlated with Attitudes and Knowledge. A sample of 303 masters-level counseling students completed the Student Interest in Gerocounseling Scale (SIGS), Ambivalent Ageism Scale (AAS), Gerontological Counseling Competencies Scale (GCCS), and an adapted Contact Scale. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to examine the hypothesized relationships between the variables and revealed that Contact Quality, and COASE predict Interest in working with older adults. COASE was also found to partially mediate the relationship between Contact Quality and Interest. Additional findings were also discussed along with limitations, areas for further research, and implications
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.25774/w4-gfnc-d679
Rights
© The Author
Recommended Citation
Wagner, Nathaniel Jacob, "Factors that Contribute to and Mediate Master’S Level Counseling Students’ Interest in Working with Older Adults" (2018). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. William & Mary. Paper 1530192613.
http://dx.doi.org/10.25774/w4-gfnc-d679
