Authors: Nuevo, Roberto¹; Wetherell, Julie Loebach²; Montorio, Ignacio³; Ruiz, Miguel³; Cabrera, Isabel³

Source: Aging and Mental Health, Volume 13, Number 1, January 2009 , pp. 135-141(7)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

Abstract:

Objectives: This study aims to explore the relationship between knowledge about aging and severity of worry in older adults, and to test the potential mediational role of intolerance of uncertainty. Method: The sample was composed of 120 community-dwelling older adults, with a mean of age of 71.0 years (SD = 6.3). Mediational analyses and structural equation modeling were used to analyze and compare different models. Results: Greater knowledge about aging was negatively related to both intolerance of uncertainty and worry, and its effect on worry was partially mediated by intolerance of uncertainty. The mediational model obtained an excellent fit to the data (i.e. Goodness of fit index (GFI) = 0.995) and clearly had a better fit than alternative models. Conclusion: These results suggest that a good knowledge of the aging process could help decrease aversive uncertainty and thus reduce the level of worry among older adults. Thus, educational programs to increase knowledge about aging could serve as one preventive strategy for anxiety in old age.

Keywords: stereotypes; GAD; beliefs about aging; FAQ

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13607860802591088

Affiliations: 1: Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigacion en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM, Spain 2: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego and VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, United States 3: Psychology Department, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain

Publication date: 2009-01-01

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