Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Chet Lesniak

Abstract

AbstractOlder adults (ages 65 and older) are expected to increase in the United States by over 70 million by the year 2030. The older adult population requires specialized medical and mental health services to address the needs related to aging. Mental health clinicians trained to address these needs may help older adults to utilize mental health counseling. Self-awareness of attitudes, insight, and knowledge may be skills that affect the attitudes of mental health clinicians toward older adults. Previous research has found that mental health clinicians who engage in self-awareness during a counseling session may improve counseling competency; however, little research has focused on the role self-awareness of mental health clinician attitudes toward older adults may impact this. Additionally, current research does not identify specific factors which may influence self-awareness of attitudes toward this population. The stereotype embodiment theory described the influence that biases embedded in childhood may have on attitudes toward older adults. A multivariate correlational design was used to test for an association between 106 mental health clinicians’ counseling older adult clients and self-reported self-awareness and insight. Mental health clinicians were recruited and surveyed using an online survey platform. The results suggested that years of licensed counseling experience may influence engagement in self-reflection, but that new tools must be developed to more accurately assess self-awareness in mental health counselors. Implications for potential positive social change include a better understanding of providing competent therapy by improving mental health clinicians’ attitudes toward older adults.

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