Determining Y- And Z-Generations’ Discrimination and Attitudes Toward The Elderly

Objective: This study intends to specify the behavior of people from generations Y and Z regarding their discrimination against elderly people. Methods: The participants were 261 members of generation Y and 240 from generation Z who voluntarily participated in the study. The data of the study were collected using the following tools: “Descriptive Feature Form,” “The Ageism Attitude Scale,” and “An Attitude Scale toward Aging and Elderliness.” Results: In the study, it was determined that the total score average of the Ageism Attitude Scale was 86.02±11.45 for people born in Generation Y and 86.19±12.39 for people born in Generation Z. It was determined that the total score average of the Attitude Scale towards Old Age and Aging was 137.21±33.81 for people born in Generation Y and 138.60±32.65 for people born in Generation Z, and it was observed that the average scores were close to each other and the difference between them was not statistically significant (p>.05). In the study, it was determined that there was a statistically significant difference between marital status, education, income, presence of chronic disease and working in elderly care according to the average scores of the "Ageism Attitude Scale". In the study, it was determined that there was a statistically significant difference between occupation and the desire to live in the same house with the elderly, according to the average scores of the "Attitude Scale towards Old Age and Aging". Conclusion: These results indicate that there are no significant differences in general attitudes between generations; however, factors such as marital status, education, income, presence of chronic illness, profession, and willingness to live with the elderly were found to have a significant impact. The study highlights the need to develop social and educational policies that focus on these influential factors to improve attitudes toward aging and the elderly.