Empathy and ageism among college students in non-medical institutions: the mediating role of empathy

Understanding college students' level of ageism is important for older adults' social inclusion and recruiting future workforce. This study extends the understanding of ageism among students of health- and non-health-oriented majors and the factors associated with students' attitudes. 246 students participated in this survey study and were measured their levels of empathy and ageism. The study found different levels of ageism and empathy among students in a general college setting. Empathy is a strong predictor for ageism when controlling for all other predictors. Path analysis revealed a moderate to strong mediating effect through empathy toward ageism. Future implications suggest that gerontological coursework should focus on more than physical and psychological curriculum design to include additional societal and sentimental understanding of the older population. Empathy should become an essential target to improve when aiming to reduce ageism among college students.