Come, Join, Lead: Attracting Students to Careers in Aging and Promoting Involvement in Gerontological Societies
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2018
Keywords
Education, leadership, professional role, societies, training
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1080/02701960.2017.1287075
Abstract
Geriatric educators face the challenge of attracting more clinicians, scientists, and educators into geriatrics and gerontology, and promoting involvement in gerontological societies. A survey of psychologists (N = 100) examined factors that attract students in clinical/counseling psychology to practice with older adults, as well as experiences in organizational service. For 58%, interest in aging began at the undergraduate level, but for others interest developed later. About one half cited academic exposure such as mentorship (51%), research (47%), or coursework (45%) as sparking interest, along with family (68%) or work experience (61%). Involvement in professional organizations lags (58%), in part owing to misperceptions about what those activities require. A continued targeted effort at the undergraduate and graduate level is essential to attract students to careers in aging. To preserve vital professional organizations, enhanced outreach may be useful to dispel myths about service and encourage engagement.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, v. 39, issue 3, p. 374-384
Scholar Commons Citation
Moye, Jennifer; Molinari, Victor A.; Karel, Michele J.; Naik, Aanand D.; Sakai, Erin; and Carpenter, Brian D., "Come, Join, Lead: Attracting Students to Careers in Aging and Promoting Involvement in Gerontological Societies" (2018). Aging Studies Faculty Publications. 34.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/gey_facpub/34
