Introduction

Nursing students, as future healthcare providers, play a pivotal role in meeting this growing need. This study aimed to determine willingness to care for older adults and identify associated factors among Iranian nursing students.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2023 among 485 nursing students at two public nursing schools in Kashan, Iran. Data were collected using a personal-social information questionnaire, the Scale of Willingness to Work with Elderly People (WEPS), and Kogan's Attitudes Toward Older People (KAOP) questionnaire.

Results

The mean age of participants was 22.6 ± 4.11 years. Most students were female (59.8%) and single (85.8%). Overall, 62.1% reported an average level of willingness to care for older adults (mean score 68.36 ± 11.74, possible range 20–120), and 52% held a positive attitude toward aging. Significant associations were found between willingness to care and attitude toward aging, participation in older-adult care workshops, having been cared for by grandparents/father in childhood, adherence to spiritual/religious practice, having an elderly parent, visiting nursing care centers, and satisfaction with the field of study (all P < 0.05). In the final stepwise regression model, these seven variables together explained a modest 7.6% of the variance in willingness to care (R = 0.276, R² = 0.076, F(7,477) = 7.69, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Nursing students' willingness to care for older adults was, on average, moderate and was associated with attitudes toward aging, intergenerational interaction, spiritual/religious adherence, geriatric-focused education, academic satisfaction, and clinical exposure to older-adult care settings.