Future nurses and social workers’ perspectives on working with older adults
A mixed-methods study
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21537403 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sema Üstündağ (0000-0001-5010-1756, Kutahya Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi, corresponding author), Burcu Hatipoğlu (0000-0002-2992-785X, Kutahya Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-16 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-03 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Educational Gerontology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0360-1277 • E-ISSN: 1521-0472 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/03601277.2026.2667862 |
| OpenAlex | W7160168894 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 45 |
As the global population ages, the need for health and social care professionals willing and prepared to work with older adults is increasing. Understanding students’ perceptions of aging and care for older adults is crucial for improving educational strategies across health and social care disciplines involved in working with older adults. This study employed a convergent mixed-methods design to explore the perceptions of nursing and social work students toward working with older adults. A total of 199 students from nursing and social work programs participated. Quantitative data were collected using Kogan’s Attitude Toward Old People Scale (KOAP), the Willingness to Work with Elderly People Scale (WEPS), and the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ). Qualitative data (n = 45) were gathered through student-created drawings with written explanations. The WEPS score was significantly and positively correlated with both KOAP (r = .619, p < .05) and TEQ (r = .338, p < .05) scores. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis indicated that KOAP (β = .570, p < .001) and TEQ (β = .140, p < .05) were significant predictors of willingness to work with older adults. Qualitative findings supported these results, identifying three key themes related to perceptions and approaches to older adults. Integration of findings resulted in one confirmed and two expanded meta-inferences. The findings suggest that fostering empathy and positive attitudes toward older adults among nursing and social work students may enhance their willingness to work with this population
MEDLINE · Qualitative research · Social isolation · Social support · Aging and Gerontology Research · Elder Abuse and Neglect · Healthcare innovation and challenges
The Toronto Empathy Questionnaire
Achieving Integration in Mixed Methods Designs—Principles and Practices
Who will treat older patients? Should medical education focus more on activities aimed at displaying positive attitudes toward older people? The prevalence of ageism among students of medical and health sciences
Willingness to work with older adults and related factors in nursing students
Willingness to work with elderly people scale (Weps) for medical and nursing students
The attitudes of social work students toward the older adult and their empathy levels
“Aging is beautiful and graceful
Visual Methodologies
Attitudes of social work students towards older people
Using Drawings in Qualitative Interviews
Using thematic analysis in psychology
Generating metainferences in mixed methods research
Attitudes toward old people
Drawing as a method of researching social representations
| Highly cited | No |
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