ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between nursing students' level of knowledge of and attitude toward the elderly and their behavior towards the elderly. METHODS: For this study, 223 nursing students participated. The data was analyzed with PASW statistics program version 18.0 using descriptive statistics, a t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's Correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The findings of the study displayed a score of 14.5 out of 25 for the level of knowledge of the elderly, a score of 3.9 out of 7 on the attitude toward the elderly, and 1.3 points on a 4-point scale on behavior towards the elderly. There was a positive correlation (r=.410, p<.001) between attitude and behavior towards the elderly, thus confirming that attitude towards the elderly influences behavior towards them. CONCLUSION: The most influential variable on the behavior towards the elderly emerged to be attitude. Thus, although knowledge and attitude cannot be neglected in manifesting positive behaviors in nursing students when they care for the elderly, knowledge training and elderly nursing practical sessions need to take place in order to strengthen attitude, which displayed a positive correlation with behavior.
