When I’m 75

College Students’ Self Perceptions of the Challenges of Aging

Bibliographic Data

ID21423219
AuthorsSarah Hahn (0000-0001-6051-6664, Mercy University, corresponding author), J M Kinney (0000-0003-3747-6021, Miami University)
Year2020
Volume91
Issue4
Pages404-420
Publication date2020-12-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe International Journal of Aging and Human Development (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0091-4150 • E-ISSN: 1541-3535
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0091415020912930
PMID32228043
OpenAlexW3013312405
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited43

Despite robust literature on people’s attitudes toward aging, far less is known about attitudes toward one’s own aging, especially among college students. We examined college students’ self-perceptions of the challenges of aging using essays from a “When I’m 75” assignment implemented at the beginning and end of the semester in an introductory gerontology course. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyze 24 students’ perceptions of their own aging at age 75. The superordinate theme, challenges of aging, was identified along with five subordinate themes: deterioration, age-related impairments, mental health, loneliness and loss, and experiencing ageism. Findings suggest that after completing the course, students both demonstrated an understanding of realistic age-related changes and had (contradictory) stereotypical ideas of what it would be like to be 75. Findings have implications for research that continues to evaluate self-perceptions and contributes to the development of pedagogical strategies and tools that promote students’ optimal aging

Developmental psychology · Loneliness · Perception · Successful aging · Superordinate goals · Theme (computing) · Aging and Gerontology Research · Medicine · Optimism, Hope, and Well-being · Psychological and Temporal Perspectives Research · Psychology · Social Psychology · Gerontology

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub