Drefs, MichelleBeran, TanyaCzarnecki, Natalia2024-09-132024-09-132024-09-13Czarnecki, N. (2024). Exploring ageism in young children: attitudes toward older adults and influencing factors (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.https://hdl.handle.net/1880/119723Being exposed to negative stereotypes about older adults and aging from a young age may have long-term negative impacts on individuals' physical and mental health, cognitive performance, and life expectancy. This thesis investigates the attitudes of young children toward older adults and the potential influencing factors such as contact with grandparents, priming effects, and parents' cultural orientation. The study utilized interview responses from younger children, which was a modified version of the Children’s Attitudes Toward the Elderly (CATE) scale, and a cultural orientation scale filled out by parents. The findings indicate that while young children hold positive attitudes toward older adults, they also hold negative stereotypes towards older adults’ competence. Quality of contact with older adults was found to play a significant role in the development of attitudes toward older adults while frequency did not. Additionally, priming and parents’ cultural orientation did not significantly influence children’s attitudes. The findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of the development of attitudes toward older adults in early childhood and highlight the importance of quality contact with older adults in their shaping.enUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Education--Early ChildhoodPsychology--SocialPsychology--Developmentalmaster thesis