Work

Anxiety in late adulthood: Associations with gender, education, and physical and cognitive functioning.

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: Anxiety is common in late adulthood and can complicate adjustment in several areas. This study used data from 2 measurement points of a representative European longitudinal study (Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe) with a large sample size (N = 28,326) and a broad age range (45-90) to examine age effects on cross-sectional mean levels of anxiety as well as longitudinal mean-level changes over 2 years with respect to gender, education, and changes in physical and cognitive functioning. Furthermore, we analyzed generalizability of the findings for different European countries. Latent change models and locally weighted smoothing curves revealed 3 main findings: (1) Mean levels of anxiety were relatively stable over the course of middle adulthood and increased during late adulthood, (2) women and individuals with less education were more anxious than men and individuals with more education, and (3) increases in anxiety in late adulthood were associated with age-associated losses in physical and cognitive functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record

Source: Psychology and Aging

DOI: 10.1037/pag0000108

Authors: Julia Tetzner, Morten Schuth

Institutions: DIPF | Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education, University of Koblenz and Landau, Universität Koblenz

Language: English

Topic: Aging and Gerontology Research

Subfield: Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: European Commission, National Institute on Aging