Research Article 2026-04-20 under-review v1

Attitudes towards Ageing among Psychologists Working with Older Adults Across Europe: Does Geropsychological Training and Education Make a Difference?

O
Olga Zamalijeva Vilnius University
J
Jasminka Despot Lučanin Croatian Psychological Association
E
Erika Borella University of Padua
C
Constantina Demosthenous Cyprus Psychologists’ Association
M
Magdalena Zadworna University of Łódź
A
Alicia Salvador University of Valencia
R
Reinhard Guss British Psychological Society
I
Isabelle Albert University of Luxembourg
F
Frieder R. Lang Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg

Abstract

Background. The demand for high-quality professional mental health services in the field of ageing is growing. However, not much is known about the pathways to education and training in ageing psychology across Europe and how this affects attitudes towards work with older adults. The present research examines in what ways attitudes toward older clients are associated with geropsychological training in three European regions (Western, Southern, and Central-Eastern). Methods. Using a snowball sampling strategy, 371 psychologists (mean age 44,8, 87,3% female) from 10 European countries participated in the survey. The self-report data on educational background and specialised training in the field of ageing and geropsychology, as well as positive and negative attitudes toward older adults, were collected. Results. The results suggest notable cross-country variability in the proportion of psychologists who had received theoretical and practical training in geropsychology, with the lowest rates in Central-Eastern Europe (i.e., Czechia, Croatia, Lithuania). Notably, across all countries, professional psychologists who received specialised training in the field of ageing expressed less negative and more positive attitudes toward older clients. Conclusions. Findings need to be interpreted with caution as the samples are not representative of the respective countries. However, it is suggested that more geropsychological education and training may eventually contribute to a better professional attitude towards clients among professional psychologists working in the field of ageing.

Citation Information

@article{olgazamalijeva2026,
  title={Attitudes towards Ageing among Psychologists Working with Older Adults Across Europe: Does Geropsychological Training and Education Make a Difference?},
  author={Olga Zamalijeva and Jasminka Despot Lučanin and Erika Borella and Constantina Demosthenous and Magdalena Zadworna and Alicia Salvador and Reinhard Guss and Isabelle Albert and Frieder R. Lang},
  journal={BMC Psychology},
  year={2026},
  doi={https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9300846/v1}
}
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