PERTANIKA
Journal of Quality of Life Studies
Scientific Brief Report
Caregiving Readiness Among Malaysian Undergraduates: The Role of Ageing Expectations and Intergenerational Interactions
Ilmie Syafiqah Mohd Termizia, Rahimah Ibrahima,b, Asmidawati Asharia
a
Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia
b
Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing, Universiti Putra Malaysia
Abstract
The ageing population has increased reliance on informal caregiving. Nevertheless, caregiving readiness before the role begins is understudied. Thus, this cross-sectional study examined caregiving readiness and the role of ageing expectations and intergenerational interactions among 300 Malaysian undergraduates in Klang Valley. Multiple regression analysis was conducted, with robustness checks performed using bootstrapping (10,000 replications) and robust regression using the Huber M-estimator. Intergenerational interactions (β = –0.163 to –0.167, p < 0.01) were negatively associated with caregiving readiness across model specifications, whereas ageing expectations showed a positive but less stable association. These findings suggest that exposure to older adults may prompt more cautious appraisals of caregiving demands rather than uniformly increasing perceived preparedness. The study highlights the need for educational policies supporting structured intergenerational engagement for caregiving preparation among young adults.
Keywords: caregiving readiness; ageing expectations; intergenerational interaction; undergraduates; Malaysia
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being; SDG 4: Quality Education
Cite As (APA)
Mohd Termizi, I. S., Ibrahim, R., & Ashari, A. (2026). Caregiving readiness among Malaysian undergraduates: The role of ageing expectations and intergenerational interactions. Pertanika Journal of Quality of Life Studies, 1(1), Article e003.
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