Exercise Science Students’ Interest in Working With Older Adult Patients

Forlenza, S.; Bourassa, D.; M, Lyman

doi:10.1093/geroni/igy023.2561

Cited by 1 publication

(4 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Career options in exercise science, related to aging populations, will continue to expand as older adults are increasing in both number and demographic proportion. Researchers in exercise science regularly recommend the incorporation of community-based learning to enhance student's professional preparation and potential employment prospects (Crandall, 2014; Forlenza & Bourassa, 2017; Rayner & Papakonstantinou, 2015; Reddan & Rauchle, 2012). Exposure to intergenerational, community-based learning has been shown to help students gain a greater understanding of the functionality of older adults and even reverse negative stereotypical beliefs regarding this population (Forlenza & Bourassa, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Researchers in exercise science regularly recommend the incorporation of community-based learning to enhance student's professional preparation and potential employment prospects (Crandall, 2014; Forlenza & Bourassa, 2017; Rayner & Papakonstantinou, 2015; Reddan & Rauchle, 2012). Exposure to intergenerational, community-based learning has been shown to help students gain a greater understanding of the functionality of older adults and even reverse negative stereotypical beliefs regarding this population (Forlenza & Bourassa, 2017). This was certainly the case in the current study as students’ initial assumptions of senior fragility and weakness were found to have been realigned or even rejected.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As exercise science is a degree program that prepares students to serve people, soft skills such as communication, relationship building, leadership development, and social cohesion are vital and have each been found to increase in community-based learning environments (Forlenza & Bourassa, 2017; Gupta et al, 2021; Mattila, 2019; Ruiz-Montero et al, 2019). Many of these skills depend on the student's ability to develop connections and foster relationships with others beyond their own peer group.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Exercise science is an allied health degree program that prepares students to work with older adults through various career paths such as physical and occupational therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, and in the fitness industry. While these students have a well-developed theoretical knowledge of the effects of aging on the body's ability to adapt to exercise, they are likely to have little to no hands-on experience working with older adults in a physically active setting (Forlenza & Bourassa, 2017). However, since 2007, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has regularly reported fitness programming for older adults as one of the top 10 trends worldwide (Thompson, 2022).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Intergenerational, Community-Based Learning and Exercise Science Student Perceptions of Classroom Community

Crawley

2022

Journal of Experiential Education

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Community-based learning is a high-impact, experiential teaching practice where elements of social interaction and authentic participation transform cognitive understanding into meaningful knowing. In the allied health field, the incorporation of community-based learning provides unique access to populations that are not inherently available in a university classroom. Purpose: Researchers used a mixed methods approach to examine the influence of an intergenerational, community-based learning environment versus a traditional learning environment on exercise science students’ perceptions of overall classroom community, connectedness, and learning. Methodology/Approach: Quantitatively, students ( n = 122) completed Rovai's CCS which was then analyzed using a t-test. Qualitatively, students completed written reflective assignments designed to gather data regarding their perceptions of working with an older adult population. Findings/Conclusions: Overall students perceived significantly greater levels of classroom community, connectedness, and learning in the intergenerational, community-based learning environment and evidenced highly positive growth in their awareness and understanding of older adults. Implications: Inclusion of an intergenerational, community-based learning environment in allied health-related degree programs can enhance student's confidence in knowledge application and their ability to connect with the older population.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%