The relationship between empathic tendency and aged discrimination attitudes of nurses

Abstract Aim This study aimed to examine the relationship between nurses’ empathic tendencies and their attitudes toward age discrimination. Methods This is a cross-sectional correlational study included a sample of 305 nurses reached through the snowball sampling method. Data were collected online between April and May 2023 using a Personal Information Form, the Empathic Tendency Scale (ETS), and the Ageism Attitude Scale (AAS). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and linear regression analysis. This study report followed the STROBE reporting guidelines. Results The majority of nurses were female, with a mean age of 34.02 ± 8.20 years. Most participants held a bachelor’s degree, and while over half reported a preference for caring for older patients, the majority experienced difficulties in geriatric care. Additionally, more than half had not received training related to the care of older adults. The mean total score of the ETS was 68.453 ± 5.836, while the mean total score of the AAS was 68.797 ± 6.736. A significant relationship was found between the total score of the ETS and both the total score of the AAS and the positive discrimination toward older adults subdimension ( r = 0.201, p < 0.05; r = 0.239, p < 0.05, respectively). The regression model examining the association between empathic tendency and attitudes toward age discrimination was statistically significant (R² = 0.037, p < 0.001). Empathic tendency was positively and significantly associated with attitudes toward age discrimination (β = 0.201, p < 0.001), explaining 3.7% of the variance in attitudes toward age discrimination. Conclusions The findings indicate a positive and significant association between nurses’ empathic tendencies and their attitudes toward age discrimination. Although the strength of this association was weak, higher empathic tendency was associated with more positive attitudes toward older adults. These findings suggest that empathic tendency may be one of several factors associated with nurses’ attitudes toward age discrimination.