The Mediating Effect of Intergroup Anxiety on the Relationship Between Professional Commitment and Implicit Aging Stereotypes Among Nursing Undergraduates

AIM: In the context of population aging, implicit aging stereotypes have emerged as a major barrier to nursing undergraduates' engagement in geriatric care, yet the mechanisms underlying these stereotypes-especially concerning professional commitment and intergroup anxiety-remain insufficiently explored. This study aimed to examine the relationships among professional commitment, intergroup anxiety, and implicit aging stereotypes in nursing undergraduates, and to explore the mediating role of intergroup anxiety in the association between professional commitment and implicit aging stereotypes. METHOD: A total of 308 nursing undergraduates from a Chinese university were recruited. Data were collected using the Intergroup Anxiety Questionnaire, the Professional Commitment of Nursing Students Scale, and the Single-Class Implicit Association Test. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, chi-square tests, Pearson correlation analysis, hierarchical regression analyses, and mediation analysis with AMOS were used to analyze the data. RESULT: The implicit aging stereotypes' D score was (-0.36 ± 0.36). Positive D-scores (> 0) indicated more positive implicit attitudes toward aging, with larger values reflecting stronger positivity, whereas negative D-scores (< 0) indicated stronger negative implicit aging stereotypes. The D-score was negatively correlated with intergroup anxiety and positively correlated with professional commitment. Intergroup anxiety partially mediated the association between professional commitment and implicit aging stereotypes among nursing undergraduates. CONCLUSION: The implicit aging stereotypes among nursing undergraduates are negative and require extensive attention. Professional commitment was associated with implicit aging stereotypes, which were mediated by intergroup anxiety. Tailored interventions that facilitate professional commitment and alleviate intergroup anxiety may help mitigate implicit aging stereotypes among nursing students and may potentially enhance their career exploration in geriatric nursing and contribute to broader aspects of future care quality.