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Factors associated with attitudes toward the elderly in a sample of elderly caregivers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 September 2016

Bruna Moretti Luchesi ,
Tiago da Silva Alexandre ,
Nathalia Alves de Oliveira ,
Allan Gustavo Brigola ,
Luciana Kusumota ,
Sofia Cristina Iost Pavarini  and
Sueli Marques
Bruna Moretti Luchesi*
Affiliation:
Ribeirão Preto School of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil Department of Nursing, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
Tiago da Silva Alexandre
Affiliation:
Department of Gerontology, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
Nathalia Alves de Oliveira
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
Allan Gustavo Brigola
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
Luciana Kusumota
Affiliation:
Ribeirão Preto School of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
Sofia Cristina Iost Pavarini
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil Department of Gerontology, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
Sueli Marques
Affiliation:
Ribeirão Preto School of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Bruna Moretti Luchesi, PhD, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Av. dos Bandeirantes, 3900, Campus Universitário, Bairro Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto-SP-Brazil, ZIP: 14040–902. Phone: +55 16 33150534. Email: bruna_luchesi@yahoo.com.br.
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Abstract

Background:

The number of elderly caregivers is increasing in the world. It is important to know the attitudes toward the elderly, because they can influence a range of behaviors. Our aim was to determine factors associated with attitudes toward the elderly in a sample of older carers.

Methods:

Three hundred and thirteen elderly caregivers (75.4% women, mean age 69.7 ± 7.1) who cared for a dependent older person at home completed a cross-sectional household interview. In addition to the four domains of the Neri Scale to Assess Attitudes Toward the Elderly, participants were evaluated regarding the demographics, care recipient (CR) characteristics, functional and cognitive status, general health, life satisfaction, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms.

Results:

Overall, attitudes toward the elderly were neutral in this sample. More negative attitudes in some Neri Scale domains were associated with being older, living in an urban setting, taking more medications per day, caring for an elderly dependent in basic Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), being “more or less” satisfied with life, and having higher levels of perceived stress. There was a negative association between positive attitudes and educational level.

Conclusions:

The results highlight the need for public policies to promote more positive attitudes toward aging and change negative stereotypes usually used to designate older people. These public policies can try to modify some predictors of negative attitudes, such as perceived stress, which was associated with all four domains of Neri Scale.

Keywords

carersaged careattitudes to agingpsychological well-being
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 28 , Issue 12 , December 2016 , pp. 2079 - 2089
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2016 

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