Network analysis of ageism and career motivation toward gerontological nursing in nursing students

This study aimed to examine the nuanced association between ageism and career motivation toward gerontological nursing (CMGN) using network analysis.

Ageism has been shown to be negatively associated with CMGN. However, the nuanced relationships between the different dimensions of ageism and the specific components of CMGN remain unexplored.

A cross-sectional survey was used.

A total of 716 undergraduate nurses were recruited using convenience sampling from three universities in Jiangxi Province, China, between March and May 2024. Participants completed the Chinese version of the Fraboni Scale of Ageism and a motivation questionnaire. Network analysis was conducted to construct and analyze the network structures of ageism and CMGN.

Network analysis revealed the strongest direct association between separation and cost. Utility and expectancy nodes exhibited the highest centralities based on expected strength, whereas separation and cost showed the highest bridge strength, connecting ageism and CMGN. No significant differences were found in the network structure or edge influence across the sex and grade subgroups.

Central and bridge nodes played critical roles within the ageism and CMGN network. Systematic, multicomponent interventions targeting these elements may help alleviate nursing students' ageism and thereby promote their motivation to engage in geriatric care.