Are We Preparing Future Psychologists for Aging Clients? Exploring Relationships Between Doctoral Psychology Trainees’ Knowledge of Aging, Ageist Attitudes, Aging Anxiety, and Therapeutic Expectations

Abstract

The shortage of psychologists trained to work competently with older adult clients highlights the need to identify modifiable factors such as knowledge of aging, ageist attitudes, and aging anxiety that may bias therapeutic expectations. Among 212 doctoral psychology trainees, knowledge of aging was low (52% accurate); biological knowledge was more accurate than psychological or social knowledge. More biological and less psychological and social knowledge related to more ageist attitudes and aging anxiety. Knowledge, aging anxiety, and ageist attitudes did not differ based on having aging-related coursework. Trainees with coursework covering ageism had better expectations regarding appropriateness of the client for therapy and their competence and comfort treating the client. Less knowledge, more ageist attitudes, and greater aging anxiety related to poorer therapeutic expectations. Aging-related training should target increasing knowledge about aging and reducing ageist attitudes and aging anxiety as potential ways to ameliorate biases in therapeutic expectations for older clients.

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