Gerontology students' cognitive representations of aging: A metaphor study

OpenAlex İngilizce

Metaphors help individuals make abstract concepts more understandable through mental imagery. Older adults are frequently described in stereotypical ways in society, reflecting both positive and negative perceptions. However, little is known about how gerontology students conceptualize ‘older adults’ and ‘gerontologists.’ This phenomenological study aimed to reveal first-year gerontology students’ perceptions of these concepts through metaphors. The study included 28 students from the Gerontology Department of a Turkish university. Data were collected in September–October 2025 using the prompts: ‘An older adult is like … because … ’ and ‘A gerontologist is like … because … .’ Students’ handwritten responses were analyzed through content analysis involving coding, theme identification, and categorization. The mean age was 20.4 ± 2.2 years, and 71.4% were female. Students produced 22 distinct metaphors, grouped as positive or negative. Common metaphors for older adults were ‘flower,’ ‘child,’ ‘big baby,’ and ‘library,’ while gerontologists were described as ‘white coat,’ ‘hero,’ and ‘friend.’ Positive metaphors emphasized wisdom, empathy, and guidance, whereas negative ones reflected dependency and fragility. Findings indicate that students generally hold positive attitudes but still exhibit some stereotypes. Incorporating experiential learning and direct interaction with older adults into gerontology curricula may help strengthen empathy and reduce stereotypes.