Sources of motivation for work in gerontology: The ethnic factor among students of social work in Israel

Relationships between reported desire to work with the elderly and ethnicity and other sociodemographic characteristics, attitudinal and value orientations, and educational factors were examined in 93 students of social work in Israel. Ethnicity was the primary distinguishing factor in the level of motivation for work in gerontology, with Arab students reporting a significantly higher degree of such motivation than Jewish students. Respondents’ orientation to the role of the aged in society, either venerating or modernist, emerged as a secondary explanatory factor. Experience in a field practicum in aging contributed only slightly to motivation for working with the aged, and other educational factors had no independent influence.