How Does the Educational Satisfaction of Elderly Care and Social Work Students Affect Their Attitudes Toward Older Adults?

As the older population grows in Türkiye, students' attitudes toward older adults and their educational satisfaction gain increasing importance. This study examined the relationship between these factors among 210 associate degree students in elderly care and social work programs. Students showed generally positive attitudes toward older adults (M = 142) and moderate to high educational satisfaction (M = 108). A low but significant positive correlation was found between attitudes and satisfaction (ρ = .21, p < .05). These findings suggest that strengthening empathy- and awareness-based educational content may improve student satisfaction and the quality of care for older adults.