Resumen de The Relationship between Perceptions and Attitudes Towards the Covid-19 Pandemic and Perceptions of Aging and Old Age among Academics Aged 65 and Above

Gülbu Tanrıverdi, Burcu Ataçer

• español

  Este estudio investiga la relación entre las percepciones de la pandemia de COVID-19 y las actitudes hacia el envejecimiento en académicos de 65 años o más en Turquía, abarcando 208 universidades. Se utilizó una encuesta en línea, recopilando datos demográficos y escalas para evaluar las percepciones del COVID-19 y las actitudes hacia la vejez. Los resultados muestran que la mitad de los académicos mayores tenía enfermedades crónicas y un tercio había contraído COVID-19. Más de la mitad reportó efectos negativos de las restricciones pandémicas, interrupciones académicas e incomodidad con la asociación de la edad cronológica con la vejez. El análisis estadístico, realizado con SPSS 25.0, encontró una relación positiva significativa entre las percepciones del COVID-19 y las actitudes hacia el envejecimiento (p<0.05). El estudio subraya cómo la resistencia al envejecimiento y los comportamientos de evitación están vinculados con actitudes positivas hacia el COVID-19 en esta población, sugiriendo que estas percepciones están interconectadas.

• English

  This study examines the relationship between perceptions and attitudes towards the COVID-19 pandemic and perceptions of aging and old age among academicians aged 65 and above. The sample consists of academics aged 65 and over from all universities in Turkey (208 universities). The study was completed with feedback from 187 participating academics.Data were collected through an online survey using a Google Form. The survey included a demographic questionnaire and scales to assess perceptions of COVID-19 and attitudes towards aging and old age. Ethical approvals and informed consent were obtained from participants. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation using SPSS 25.0 software. The findings reveal that approximately half of the senior academics had chronic illnesses, and about one-third had contracted COVID-19. More than half of the participants reported negative impacts of pandemic restrictions, disruptions in academic activities, and discomfort with the association of chronological age with old age. Statistical analysis demonstrates a significant positive relationship between perceptions and attitudes towards COVID-19 and perceptions of aging among elderly academics (p<0.05). This study highlights the interconnectedness of resistance to aging, avoidance behaviors, and positive attitudes towards COVID-19 among elderly academicians. These results suggest that perceptions of aging and attitudes towards the pandemic are intertwined in this population.