Predicting Social Work Students’ Interest in Gerontology: Results From an International Sample

The need for social workers with a specialization in gerontology has become a global priority. The purpose of this study was to explore social work students’ interest in gerontology. This cross-sectional survey was completed by 1,042 students from the United States, England, and Australia, and only 5.4% of the sample indicated an interest in gerontology. Results of the logistic regression found that personal aging beliefs and the frequency of time spent with an older adult were significant in explaining gerontological interest. The infusion of aging content may facilitate further advancement in the field, but additional strategies may also be needed.