Attitudes of Nursing Students Toward Older Adults and Ageism at a Philippine Higher Education Institution

Abstract

Ageism, expressed through age-related stereotypes, prejudices, and discriminatory behaviors, presents a persistent challenge to the delivery of equitable and compassionate nursing care for older adults. Anchored in Social Role Theory by Alice Eagly, which explains how societal roles shape beliefs and expectations, and Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring, which emphasizes empathy, respect, and humanistic values in nursing practice, this study examined nursing students’ attitudes toward older adults within the context of nursing education. A quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive-comparative design was utilized, involving 190 undergraduate nursing students aged 18–29 selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using an adapted version of Kogan’s Attitudes Toward Older People (ATOP) scale, which assesses cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Mann–Whitney U test, and the Kruskal–Wallis H test. Findings indicated generally positive emotional and behavioral attitudes, reflecting a caring orientation consistent with Watson’s theory. In contrast, cognitive attitudes remained largely neutral, suggesting the persistence of subtle age-related stereotypes influenced by socially constructed roles. No significant differences were found across sex, year level, or family type; however, students with greater exposure to older adults exhibited more favorable cognitive attitudes, supporting the role of direct interaction in reshaping social role expectations. This study is limited by its single-institution scope and purposive sampling, which may reduce generalizability. Nevertheless, the findings contribute to a broader understanding of ageism in nursing education and underscore the importance of integrating experiential learning and human caring principles into curricula to foster age-inclusive attitudes and enhance the quality of care for older adults.