Middle Eastern Journal of Disability Studies

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Kareshki H, Rooh parvar E, Zyghmynzhad F, Garavand H. The Role of Religious Orientation in Attitudes toward the Elderly among Students of Clinical Psychology, Theology, Medicine and Nursing. MEJDS 2014; 4 (1) :40-49
URL: http://jdisabilstud.org/article-1-349-en.html

Objective: The elderly population is increasing in number. No doubt, a positive attitude towards them can have positive outcomes. Hence, determining the factors affecting the elderly is an important topic. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine the role of religious orientation in attitudes toward the elderly.

Materials & Methods: This research was of descriptive - analytical design. The study population consisted of 180 students admitted in 2008 in the disciplines of clinical psychology, theology, medicine and nursing at Mashhad’s ‘Ferdowsi University’. Purposive sampling was used. We expect the groups to have greater communications with the elderly in the future. The ‘Azerbaijani religious orientation scale’ and ‘Kogan's Old People scale’ (KOP) were completed by the students. Reliability, content and construct validities of the religious orientation questionnaire have already been evaluated in Iran. The reliability, construct and content validities of the KOP were evaluated by the research team.

Results: There were significant differences between males and females in their religious orientation & its relevant factors (p= 0.001). However, males and females did not significantly differ in terms of their attitudes toward the elderly & its components. Pearson’s correlation showed a significant association between religious orientation & its factors and attitudes toward the elderly & its components (p<0.01). The results of multiple regression showed that the religious orientation factors (beliefs, rituals and ethics) could predict attitudes toward the elderly (p=0.0001, F(2.148) =51.23). ANOVA showed significant differences between the four groups in terms of their attitudes toward the elderly (p=0.027).

Conclusions: The findings of this study confirm that religious attitudes are related to attitudes toward the elderly and that we can predict these attitudes through people’s religious attitudes.