THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACTIVE AGING INTERVENTIONS AND THE ATTITUDES OF WOMEN IN THE 15-49 AGE INTERVAL TOWARDS ELDERLY PEOPLE

Abstract

Background and objectives: The rate of elderly people is increasing worldwide as the human lifespan lengthens. This study was performed in order to determine relationship between active aging interventions and the attitudes of women in the age interval of 15-49 years towards elderly people and the factors affecting active aging interventions.

Methods: Total of 459 women in the 15-49 age interval presenting at a Family Health Center were included in this descriptive and cross sectional study. Data was collected using a Woman Identification Form, the Kogan Attitudes towards the Elderly Scale and an Active Interventions towards Aging Questionnaire.

Results: Although the attitudes of the women towards the elderly were close to positive, they remained at medium levels and their interventions towards active aging were on a good level. As the positive attitudes of women towards the elderly increased, their application levels for interventions towards active aging increased simultaneously (p<0.05). Age, education level, employment status, the presence of chronic diseases, the presence of elderly people in the family which the women were responsible for, and status regarding believing in the possibility of healthy aging were all among factors that affected the attitudes of women towards the elderly and their active aging interventions (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The attitudes of women in their reproductive cycles towards the elderly were positive and their applications of active aging interventions were on a good level. This situation affected the active aging processes of the women in a positive manner. In this context, the society, and especially women, should be made aware on the subject of active aging.