Comparing Dignity in Older Adults and College Students
Author Information
Author(s): Adawudu Emefa, Chen Chunfang, Choi Jeungok, Jacelon Cynthia
Primary Institution: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Hypothesis
The perception of dignity changes across the lifespan.
Conclusion
The perception of attributed dignity varies across the lifespan, with older adults valuing behavior towards others and college students focusing on self-value.
Supporting Evidence
- Older adults rated 'behavior with respect towards others' as the most important factor.
- College-aged individuals considered 'self-value' the most important attribute of dignity.
- The study used exploratory factor analysis to analyze the data.
Takeaway
This study looked at how older people and college students see dignity differently, finding that older people care more about how they treat others, while younger people care more about how they see themselves.
Methodology
Data was collected using the Jacelon Attributed Dignity Scale, social desirability scale, and Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale from older adults and college students, followed by exploratory factor analysis.
Participant Demographics
289 older adults from senior centers and 380 college students from a public university in New England.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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