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Aging Anxiety and Related Factors of Middle-Aged Adults

Soon-Rim Suh1, Hee-Jung Choi2
Korean Journal of Adult Nursing 2013;25(4):464-472.
Published online: August 18, 2013

1College of Nursing, Kyungpook National University, Daegue

2Department of Nursing, Kaya University, Gimhae, Korea

Corresponding author: Choi, Hee-Jung Department of Nursing, Kaya University, 60 Samgye-dong, Gimhae 700-422, Korea. Tel: +82-55-330-1187, Fax: +82-55-330-1142, E-mail: daunhj@hanmail.net
• Received: April 26, 2013   • Accepted: August 19, 2013

© 2013 Korean Society of Adult Nursing

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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  • Purpose
    The purpose of this study was to identify aging anxiety and influencing factors of middle-aged adults.
  • Methods
    Descriptive correlation design was used. Three hundred and three middle-aged adults participated in the study and completed the questionnaires in the period from September 11 to October 15 of 2011. The data was analyzed using independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchial multiple regression analysis.
  • Results
    Aging anxiety of middle-aged adults was higher than a moderate level. Socio-demographic variables such as age, religion, education, economic level, perceived health status and experience of living with older adults influenced significantly on aging anxiety. In contrast, general self-efficacy, aging knowledge and attitude toward older adults were negatively correlated with aging anxiety. Hierarchial multiple regression analysis incorporating these variables showed an explanation rate of aging anxiety at 21%. And religion, perceived health status, attitude toward older adults, and general self-efficacy were statistically significant among variables that influence on aging anxiety.
  • Conclusion
    The findings of this study suggest that senior preparation programs that can enhance self-efficacy, induce positive attitude on older adults and promote health should be implemented to reduce aging anxiety of middle-aged adults.
  • Key Words: Aging anxiety; Knowledge; Attitude; Self-efficacy; Middle-aged
Table 1.
General Characteristics of Participants. (N=303)
Characteristics Categories n (%)
Gender Male 124 (40.9)
Female 179 (59.1)
Age (year) 40~49 172 (56.8)
50~59 131 (43.2)
Marital status Married 286 (94.4)
Widowed, divorce or 17 (5.6)
other  
Religion Protestant 33 (10.9)
Catholic 29 (9.6)
Buddhist 133 (43.9)
No affiliation 103 (34.0)
Other 5 (1.6)
Education ≤Middle school 32 (10.6)
High school 173 (57.1)
≥College 98 (32.3)
Occupation Yes 232 (76.6)
No 71 (23.4)
Monthly income (10,000 won) ≤100 10 (3.3)
100~＜250 79 26.1)
250~＜400 119 (39.3)
400~＜550 51 (16.8)
≥550 44 (14.5)
Economic Status Low 88 (29.0)
Medium 168 (55.4)
High 47 (15.6)
Perceived health status Bad 21 (6.9)
Fair 156 (51.5)
Good 126 (41.6)
Experience of living with older adults Yes 170 (56.1)
No 133 (43.9)
Table 2.
Correlation between Knowledge on Aging, Attitude toward Older Adults, Self-efficacy and Aging Anxiety. (N=303)
Variables M±SD 1 2 3
r (p) r (p) r (p)
1. Knowledge on aging 13.15±3.87      
2. Attitude toward older adults 63.90±7.95 .17 (0.003)    
3. General self-efficacy 27.68±5.02 .12 (0.037) .31 (＜.001)  
4. Aging anxiety 59.54±7.42 -.18 (＜.001) -.30 (＜.001) -.35 (＜.001)
Table 3.
Aging Anxiety according to General Characteristics of Participants. (N=303)
Characteristics Categories Aging anxiety
M±SD F or t (p) Scheffé
Gender Male 58.89±7.67 0.01 (.946)  
Female 59.99±7.23
Age (year) 40~49 59.10±7.90 5.46 (.020)
50~59 60.11±6.73
Marital status Married 59.36±7.44 2.94 (.087)
Widowed, divorce or other 62.53±6.55
Religion Protestant 57.09±9.44 2.65 (.033)
Catholic 56.72±8.78
Buddhist 59.92±6.61
No affiliation 60.50±7.12
Other 62.00±5.43
Education ≤Middle school 59.97±6.91 4.81 (.009)
High school 60.52±6.47
≥College 57.66±8.77
Occupation Yes 58.89±7.60 0.68 (.409)
No 61.66±6.43
Monthly income (10,000 won) ≤100a 62.50±6.15 4.26 (.002) a＞b
100~＜250 61.35±6.17
250~＜400 59.78±6.72
400~＜550 58.43±8.29
≥550b 56.23±9.24
Economic status Lowa 64.33±4.32 11.33 (＜.001) a, b＞c
Mediumb 60.54±7.14
Highc 57.49±7.59
Perceived health status bada 64.33±4.32 11.33 (＜.001) a＞b, c
Fairb 60.54±7.14
Goodc 57.49±7.59
Experience of living with older adults Yes 59.70±6.81 7.73 (.006)
No 59.50±8.12

a, b, c: group for Scheffé test.

Table 4.
Factors Influencing on Aging Anxiety. (N=303)
Variable Mode II Model II
B SE β t (p) B SE β t (p)
Agea
  50~59 years 0.36 0.83 .02 0.43 (.668) -0.04 0.80 -.01 -0.05 (.959)
Religionb
  No religion 1.67 0.86 .11 1.96 (.051) 1.75 0.81 .11 2.16 (.031)
Education -0.62 0.70 -.05 -0.88 (.379) -0.38 0.67 -.03 -0.57 (.570)
Monthly income -0.93 0.44 -.13 -2.11 (.364) -0.61 0.42 -.09 -1.46 (.146)
Economic status -1.28 0.70 -.11 -1.82 (.069) -1.08 0.67 -.10 -1.61 (.108)
Perceived health status -2.55 0.70 -.21 -3.65 (＜.001) -1.80 0.68 -.15 -2.66 (.008)
Experience of living with OAc
  No experience of living with OA -0.51 0.82 -.03 -0.62 (.537) -1.00 0.78 -.07 -1.29 (.199)
Knowledge on aging   -0.12 0.10 -.06 -1.17 (.244)
Attitude toward older adults -0.20 0.05 -.22 -3.89 (＜.001)
General self-efficacy -0.28 0.08 -.19 -3.34 (.001)
  R2=.13, Adj. R2=.11, F=6.39, p＜.001 R2=.23, Adj. R2=.21, F=9.17, p＜.001

OA=older adults. a=Dummy coded (40~49 years=1, 50~59 years=2); b=Dummy coded (yes=1, no=0), c=Dummy coded (yes=1, no=0).

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    Korean J Adult Nurs. 2013;25(4):464-472.   Published online August 31, 2013
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2013.25.4.464
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    Aging Anxiety and Related Factors of Middle-Aged Adults
    Korean J Adult Nurs. 2013;25(4):464-472.   Published online August 31, 2013
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2013.25.4.464
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    Aging Anxiety and Related Factors of Middle-Aged Adults
    Aging Anxiety and Related Factors of Middle-Aged Adults

    General Characteristics of Participants. (N=303)

    Characteristics Categories n (%)
    Gender Male 124 (40.9)
    Female 179 (59.1)
    Age (year) 40~49 172 (56.8)
    50~59 131 (43.2)
    Marital status Married 286 (94.4)
    Widowed, divorce or 17 (5.6)
    other  
    Religion Protestant 33 (10.9)
    Catholic 29 (9.6)
    Buddhist 133 (43.9)
    No affiliation 103 (34.0)
    Other 5 (1.6)
    Education ≤Middle school 32 (10.6)
    High school 173 (57.1)
    ≥College 98 (32.3)
    Occupation Yes 232 (76.6)
    No 71 (23.4)
    Monthly income (10,000 won) ≤100 10 (3.3)
    100~＜250 79 26.1)
    250~＜400 119 (39.3)
    400~＜550 51 (16.8)
    ≥550 44 (14.5)
    Economic Status Low 88 (29.0)
    Medium 168 (55.4)
    High 47 (15.6)
    Perceived health status Bad 21 (6.9)
    Fair 156 (51.5)
    Good 126 (41.6)
    Experience of living with older adults Yes 170 (56.1)
    No 133 (43.9)

    Correlation between Knowledge on Aging, Attitude toward Older Adults, Self-efficacy and Aging Anxiety. (N=303)

    Variables M±SD 1 2 3
    r (p) r (p) r (p)
    1. Knowledge on aging 13.15±3.87      
    2. Attitude toward older adults 63.90±7.95 .17 (0.003)    
    3. General self-efficacy 27.68±5.02 .12 (0.037) .31 (＜.001)  
    4. Aging anxiety 59.54±7.42 -.18 (＜.001) -.30 (＜.001) -.35 (＜.001)

    Aging Anxiety according to General Characteristics of Participants. (N=303)

    Characteristics Categories Aging anxiety
    M±SD F or t (p) Scheffé
    Gender Male 58.89±7.67 0.01 (.946)  
    Female 59.99±7.23
    Age (year) 40~49 59.10±7.90 5.46 (.020)
    50~59 60.11±6.73
    Marital status Married 59.36±7.44 2.94 (.087)
    Widowed, divorce or other 62.53±6.55
    Religion Protestant 57.09±9.44 2.65 (.033)
    Catholic 56.72±8.78
    Buddhist 59.92±6.61
    No affiliation 60.50±7.12
    Other 62.00±5.43
    Education ≤Middle school 59.97±6.91 4.81 (.009)
    High school 60.52±6.47
    ≥College 57.66±8.77
    Occupation Yes 58.89±7.60 0.68 (.409)
    No 61.66±6.43
    Monthly income (10,000 won) ≤100a 62.50±6.15 4.26 (.002) a＞b
    100~＜250 61.35±6.17
    250~＜400 59.78±6.72
    400~＜550 58.43±8.29
    ≥550b 56.23±9.24
    Economic status Lowa 64.33±4.32 11.33 (＜.001) a, b＞c
    Mediumb 60.54±7.14
    Highc 57.49±7.59
    Perceived health status bada 64.33±4.32 11.33 (＜.001) a＞b, c
    Fairb 60.54±7.14
    Goodc 57.49±7.59
    Experience of living with older adults Yes 59.70±6.81 7.73 (.006)
    No 59.50±8.12

    a, b, c: group for Scheffé test.

    Factors Influencing on Aging Anxiety. (N=303)

    Variable Mode II Model II
    B SE β t (p) B SE β t (p)
    Agea
      50~59 years 0.36 0.83 .02 0.43 (.668) -0.04 0.80 -.01 -0.05 (.959)
    Religionb
      No religion 1.67 0.86 .11 1.96 (.051) 1.75 0.81 .11 2.16 (.031)
    Education -0.62 0.70 -.05 -0.88 (.379) -0.38 0.67 -.03 -0.57 (.570)
    Monthly income -0.93 0.44 -.13 -2.11 (.364) -0.61 0.42 -.09 -1.46 (.146)
    Economic status -1.28 0.70 -.11 -1.82 (.069) -1.08 0.67 -.10 -1.61 (.108)
    Perceived health status -2.55 0.70 -.21 -3.65 (＜.001) -1.80 0.68 -.15 -2.66 (.008)
    Experience of living with OAc
      No experience of living with OA -0.51 0.82 -.03 -0.62 (.537) -1.00 0.78 -.07 -1.29 (.199)
    Knowledge on aging   -0.12 0.10 -.06 -1.17 (.244)
    Attitude toward older adults -0.20 0.05 -.22 -3.89 (＜.001)
    General self-efficacy -0.28 0.08 -.19 -3.34 (.001)
      R2=.13, Adj. R2=.11, F=6.39, p＜.001 R2=.23, Adj. R2=.21, F=9.17, p＜.001

    OA=older adults. a=Dummy coded (40~49 years=1, 50~59 years=2); b=Dummy coded (yes=1, no=0), c=Dummy coded (yes=1, no=0).
    Table 1. General Characteristics of Participants. (N=303)

    Table 2. Correlation between Knowledge on Aging, Attitude toward Older Adults, Self-efficacy and Aging Anxiety. (N=303)

    Table 3. Aging Anxiety according to General Characteristics of Participants. (N=303)

    a, b, c: group for Scheffé test.

    Table 4. Factors Influencing on Aging Anxiety. (N=303)

    OA=older adults. a=Dummy coded (40~49 years=1, 50~59 years=2); b=Dummy coded (yes=1, no=0), c=Dummy coded (yes=1, no=0).

    Table 1.

    Table 2.

    Table 3.

    Table 4.

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