Perception of aging among Korean undergraduate nursing students *

Objective: To explore perceptions of aging among Korean undergraduate nursing students. Methods: The participants for the study were 102 undergraduate nursing students, selected from two universities in Korea. The questions were non-structured, open-ended in order for the students to make sufficiently complete statements regarding their experiences with aging. Results: The collected materials were classified into 4 themes, 13 sub-themes and 30 meaning units. Four themes emerged: fullness, emptiness, transference, and desirability. Most nursing students perceived aging positively as fullness and desirability, which are influenced by Confucianism. Conclusion: In conclusion, Confucianism as a cultural context should be considered to develop strategies for promoting a positive perception of aging in Korea.