Title:The Effect of Personality Traits of Healthcare Worker Candidates on their
Attitudes Towards the Elderly
Volume: 5
Author(s): Yüksel Demirel, Hüseyin Tolga Çağatay*, Esin Başaran, Çiğdem Özdemir Eler, Gülay Turgay and Mustafa Gülşen
Affiliation:
- Department of Medical Services and Techniques, Başkent University Vocational School of Health Services, Ankara, Turkey
Keywords:
Eldercare, Old people, Personality, Character, Attitudes of health personnel, Healthcare service.
Abstract:
Background:
It is known that attitudes towards the elderly are an important variable affecting healthcare services. Considering the increasing trends of the
population over 65 years in countries, it is important to determine the attitudes of future healthcare workers towards the elderly and to prepare them
to serve in the health sector with activities that will lead to positive changes. In this direction, it is important to determine the effect of personality
traits of prospective healthcare workers on their attitudes toward the elderly.
Methods:
The research was conducted using the “relational survey model”. The study was conducted with 581 prospective healthcare workers. Personal
Information Form, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, and Kogan's Scale of Attitudes towards the Elderly were used as data collection tools. Data
were obtained and analyzed using the online data collection method.
Results:
According to the results of the study, it was found that the attitudes of students who were healthcare candidates for older adults were generally
positive (Χ = 63.46±13.42). While there was a positive yet moderate and statistically significant correlation between attitudes towards the elderly
and scores on the Extraversion subscale (r= 0.634, p<0.01) and a negative yet moderate and statistically significant correlation with scores on the
Neuroticism (r= -0.568, p<0.01) and Psychoticism (r= -0.602, p<0.01) subscales. The personality traits extraversion, neuroticism, and
psychoticism explained 58.6% of the attitude towards the elderly. According to the regression results, extraversion (β= 0.358; p<0.001) positively
affected attitudes towards the elderly, whereas neuroticism (β= -0.310; p<0.001) and psychoticism (β= -0.307; p<0.001) negatively affected
attitudes towards the elderly.
Conclusions:
Given the important role of healthcare professionals in improving the care and quality of life of the elderly, it is necessary to develop strategies to
improve the attitudes of future healthcare professionals towards the elderly. Consideration of personality traits in determining these strategies may
contribute to the development of effective and personalized approaches.