Effect of older adult health and age on psychology doctoral trainees’ expectations of clinical work with older adult clients

Abstract

ABSTRACT This experimental, repeated-measures study investigated the effects of client health and client age on doctoral psychology students’ clinical expectations for their work with older adult clients. Doctoral clinical and counseling psychology trainees (N = 223) completed measures assessing clinical expectations for three older adult clients of varying health status (healthy, recent Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) diagnosis, heart disease) who all presented with depressive symptoms. Trainees were randomly assigned to the 71-year-old or 81-year-old condition. Trainees perceived a depressed client with a recent AD diagnosis as a less appropriate candidate for therapy, less motivated and less responsible for therapy, and less able to develop a therapeutic relationship. Additional health-based differences in prognosis, comfort, and competence were moderated by client age. Although age did have a small effect, the health of the older adult client had a stronger influence on trainees’ clinical expectations for work with older adults. Cognitive health concerns were perceived as a greater barrier to clinical work with older adults than were physical health concerns. Health biases for clinical work with older adults could impact the quality of mental healthcare provided.