PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR THE ELDERLY: PUBLIC OPINION

The ratings of 414 respondents aged 17-81 years revealed strong biases against psychotherapy for older adults. Ratings of the value of psychotherapy and the benefit that clients could derive from psychotherapy decreased steadily with increasing target age. The respondents' ratings in the presen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychotherapy (Chicago, Ill.) Ill.), 1994, Vol.31 (3), p.492-502
Main Authors: ZIVIAN, MARILYN T, LARSEN, WILLIAM, GEKOSKI, WILLIAM, KNOX, V. JANE, HATCHETTE, VIRGINIA
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged (Attitudes Toward)
Human
Mental Disorders
Psychotherapy
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Summary:The ratings of 414 respondents aged 17-81 years revealed strong biases against psychotherapy for older adults. Ratings of the value of psychotherapy and the benefit that clients could derive from psychotherapy decreased steadily with increasing target age. The respondents' ratings in the present study are consistent with psychotherapists' lower preferences for treating older adults found in a previous study ( see Zivian, Larsen, Knox, Gekoski, & Hatchette, 1992 ). Together, the results of the two studies reveal biases that may explain why so few older adults seek and receive psychological services.
ISSN:0033-3204
1939-1536
DOI:10.1037/0033-3204.31.3.492