Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Psychology, Clinical-Community

Date of Defense

6-9-2017

Graduate Advisor

Ann Steffen, PhD

Committee

Zoe Peterson, PhD

Susan Kashubeck-West, PhD

Joseph Pickard, PhD

Abstract

Abstract

There is consensus that providers who work with transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) older adults should use the language preferred by the older adult; however, self-efficacy in this particular context is unexplored. The current study compared the efficacy of three online interventions for aging-focused professionals designed to increase knowledge of TGNC-related terminology, decrease self-reported negative attitudes towards TGNC individuals, and increase self-efficacy for affirmative interactions. Employees and volunteers of area agencies on aging across the United States (N = 155) were randomly assigned to one of three interventions: written educational information, a video demonstration, or both the written educational information and the video demonstration. It was hypothesized that individuals in the video intervention group would show greater improvements in the three domains compared to those in the written educational group. Results for this set of hypotheses showed a decrease in anti-TGNC attitudes and increase in self-efficacy for affirmative interactions in both intervention groups with neither group showing greater impact on these variables. It was also hypothesized that individuals in the combined written and video intervention group would show greater improvements in the three domains compared to those in the written educational group. Again, results showed no difference between interventions; participants in both conditions demonstrated a decrease in anti-TGNC attitudes and an increase in self-efficacy. Future directions include introducing a waitlist control group, replication of these findings, and consideration of a development model for continuing education.

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