Master of Gerontological Studies, Miami University, 2008, Gerontology

The purpose of this research is to explore the relationship between religiosity and attitudes towards aging. Specifically, this research investigates the relationship between specific kinds of Christian belief (fundamentalism, orthodoxy, puritanism, and humanism) and attitudes toward personal aging. Results show that individuals with more orthodox beliefs tended to have more positive attitudes about their own aging. Individuals with greater fundamentalist belief also have more positive attitudes about personal aging while those individuals who hold humanistic belief have more negative attitudes toward personal aging. These three kinds of beliefs were the only significant predictors of attitudes toward personal aging when controlling for age, gender, educational attainment and frequency of church attendance.

Committee: Suzanne Kunkel PhD (Committee Chair); Jennifer Kinney PhD (Committee Member); Anthony Peguero PhD (Committee Member); Robert Applebaum PhD (Other) Subjects: Gerontology