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This study aims at developing and designing a valid and reliable instrument to assess attitudes towards the elderly in Jordan. An attitudinal scale of (200 items) developed by Sahud, Bruvold & Merino (1990) was translated into Arabic and used as pool items for this study. A sample of 300 students was generated from Mutah University (Jordan). A factor analysis runs on (200) items. Inclusion criterion consisted of four criteria-item mean 2.5-3.5; SD 1-1.5, Do not know <25%, and correlation with the total score >0.30. Sixty-eight items were left after employing the four criteria and consider being the final scale items. Four theoretical factors were determined social status of the elderly, ageing as a developmental stage, physical, and psychological status of elderly. The total scale shows a high reliability (Chonbach@=0.93). Students show positive and negative attitudes toward the elderly. Two factors are identified: the social requirements of ageing and the personal disposition of old people. Significant differences found in attitudes towards the elderly attributed to job and social status. However, there were no significant differences that could be attributed to sex, education and number of elderly in the family.

Keywords: Elderly, Scale, Attitudes, Students, Jordan.