Motivation and Willingness of Nursing Students Toward Elderly Care: The Moderating Role of Demographic Factors in Henan, China

Background The global ageing population has increased the demand for a nursing workforce that is both competent and willing to care for elderly people. Understanding the motivational factors influencing nursing students’ willingness to engage in elderly care is therefore essential for strengthening geriatric nursing education. However, limited empirical research has examined the moderating role of demographic factors in the relationship between motivation and willingness to care for elderly people. Purpose This study examined the relationship between nursing students’ motivation and their willingness to care for elderly people, as well as the moderating effects of age, gender, educational level, and work experience. Methods A cross-sectional survey design was employed using validated instruments measuring intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and willingness towards elderly care. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression with moderation analysis. Results The findings showed that nursing students demonstrated moderate levels of motivation (M = 3.36) and willingness to care for elderly people (M = 3.27). Intrinsic motivation was more strongly associated with willingness (r = 0.406) than extrinsic motivation (r = 0.289). Hierarchical regression analysis confirmed that motivation significantly predicted willingness after controlling for demographic variables. Gender and educational level significantly moderated this relationship, with stronger effects observed among female and Grade 3 students, while age and prior work experience showed no significant effects. Conclusion This study provides original empirical evidence on how demographic factors shape the motivation–willingness relationship among nursing students in the Chinese context. It highlights the need for targeted educational strategies to enhance intrinsic motivation.