Effects of Aging Anxiety and Job Satisfaction on Ageism Toward Older Adults Among Tertiary Hospital Nurses

Background This study aimed to examine the prevalence of ageism, anxiety about aging, job satisfaction, and knowledge of aging among nurses working in tertiary hospitals. Furthermore, it sought to identify the factors that influence nurses’ ageist attitudes toward older adults. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 300 nurses from tertiary care hospitals in South Korea between February and March 2024. Participants had at least one year of clinical experience. Data were collected through validated self-report questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis using IBM SPSS version 26.0. Results The mean ageism score was 40.87 (SD = 5.31) out of 70, indicating a moderately positive attitude toward older adults. Multiple regression analysis identified aging anxiety (β = − 0.42, p < .001) and job satisfaction (β = 0.17, p = .004) as significant predictors of ageism. The model explained 30.0% of the variance in ageism (R²= 0.32, p < .001). Other variables such as age, work unit, experience living with older adults, and knowledge of aging were not statistically significant. Conclusions To reduce ageism among nurses, it is essential to address aging anxiety through targeted educational and cultural interventions. Additionally, improving the organizational environment to enhance job satisfaction may contribute significantly to fostering more equitable and respectful care for older adults.