Investigating the mediating role of attitude to seniors and professional identity in English teachers’ gerontology knowledge and willingness to teach
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21537578 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jia-Fen Wu (0000-0003-1097-221X, Yulin Normal University), Chun-Hui Lin (0009-0007-2645-6152, Yulin Normal University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 52 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 150-165 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-01 |
| 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 | 10.1080/03601277.2025.2475497 |
| OpenAlex | W4408298059 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 45 |
This study investigated the complex interrelationships between gerontology knowledge (GK), attitudes toward seniors, professional identity (PI), and willingness to teach (WT) among 194 English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers in China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Within the context of China’s demographic challenges of population aging and declining birth rates, the research examined English teachers’ potential transition to teaching seniors. Path analysis revealed that while gerontology knowledge alone did not directly predict willingness to teach, it exerted significant influence through sequential mediation of attitudes toward the elderly and professional identity. Among the three dimensions of gerontology knowledge examined, psychological knowledge emerged as the most influential factor in shaping teachers’ attitudes. Notably, teachers demonstrated stronger intrinsic than extrinsic motivation toward teaching seniors, though their overall gerontology knowledge and attitudes remained moderate. The findings highlight the critical need for enhancing professional development in gerontological education and suggest that teachers’ career transitions to elderly education may require targeted interventions to build knowledge, reshape attitudes, and strengthen professional identity in this emerging educational context
Medical education · Pedagogy · Willingness to communicate · Aging and Gerontology Research · Health and Well-being Studies · Medicine · Psychology · Retirement, Disability, and Employment · Social Psychology
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| Citations per year | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Highly cited | No |