This study of 106 elderly Central Missourians examines religious behavior as an indication of "disengagement." It is argued that religiosity must be measured in both organizational forms such as attending religious services and the more subjective nonorganizational forms including prayer and listening to religious services. (Author)

This article presents a bibliography on education for older adults. (JEL)

The author provides information about jobs in the field of aging. Both service and administrative jobs are discussed. Educational requirements for each type of job are described. A list of resources on aging-related jobs is included. (CH)

Examines federal tax expenditures or subsidies directed toward enhancing the retirement income of the elderly. Charges that such expenditures annually target benefits to the wealthiest segment of the elderly population. Examines equity issues and recommends that these tax expenditures be examined on a case-to-case basis. (JAC)

Constructed a Modified Purpose in Life Scale and used item analysis to validate it on a sample of 177 Oklahoma retirees and 202 Taiwan retirees. Results suggested the seven-item Modified PIL is a satisfactory measure of psychological well-being among the elderly and a valid tool for cross-national comparisons. (JAC)

Suggests that the social position and value of old age are normally of little importance in the personal lives of older people, partly because of the limited salience of age within their informal networks. Factors that heighten the salience of being old may reduce well being. (JAC)

Discusses the impact of the older population on the resources of the Kibbutzim by examining the position of the elderly in the economic structure. Demographic and economic changes have been accompanied by changes in means of maintaining the ideology of the Kibbutzim to provide for the elderly. (JAC)

Examined the influence of a confidant and the characteristics of that relationship on the well-being of 1,200 older men. In general, the presence of a confidant or characteristics of the confidant (sex, age, contact, frequency) had little influence on well-being. Intimacy and disclosure may be less important to men. (JAC)

Elderly adults (N=72) were presented a concept problem which varied as a function of type of solution shift and stimulus materials. Both trials to criterion and postshift error patterns were analyzed. Results indicated stimulus materials affected postshift performance and the elderly do respond in a dimensional fashion under some circumstances.…

Respondents (N=532) over a wide age range rated their own lives and an "average person's life" at each of eight age intervals. Ratings varied significantly by age of target and of respondent and were increasingly differentiated as a function of both the age level being evaluated and the respondent's age. (Author)

The NCOA-Harris survey suggests new directions for research on the social aspects of aging, that their sample of older persons is representative of the American older population, and that social gerontologists need to pay more attention to the cumulation of knowledge in the field. (Author)

Distance learning has the capacity to make a significant impact on gerontological education. Possibilities range from the education of professionals to the teaching of gerontology to the education of caregivers of today's aging population. (JOW)

Collected information on the educational experiences, needs, and interests of a statewide sample of mentally retarded older adults by interviewing the mentally retarded individuals and sending questionnaires to knowledgeable others matched to each subject. Results indicated that this group of older persons strongly desired continued opportunity…

Notes a critical examination of fundamental assumptions of gerontological research reveals problematic sources of concept and theory development. When empirical findings conflict with researchers' theories, the latter must be reexamined and revised. Claims the aged themselves should be looked to for new hypotheses, and focus should be on such…

Asserts that working with older adults requires specialized preparation in professional ethics. Presents rationale for including specialized ethics training in counseling programs preparing mental health professional to work with older adults, and discusses one way in which this training might be accomplished. (Author/NB)