Oscar Ribeiro1, Laetitia Teixeira2, Lia Araújo3, Rosa Marina Afonso4, Nancy Pachana5. 1. UnIFai/ICBAS,University of Porto,ESSUA and Higher Institute of Social Service of Porto,Porto,Portugal. 2. UnIFai/ICBAS,University of Porto,Porto,Portugal. 3. UnIFai/ICBAS,University of Porto and ESEV,Viseu,Portugal. 4. UnIFai/ICBAS,University of Porto and University of Beira Interior,Covilhã,Portugal. 5. School of Psychology,University of Queensland,Queensland,Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Centenarians' psychological well-being is presently of great interest in psychogeriatric research but little is known about factors that specifically account for the presence of clinically relevant anxiety symptoms in this age group. This study examined the presence of anxiety and its predictors in a sample of centenarians and aims to contribute to a better understanding of anxiety determinants in extreme old age. METHODS: We examined how socio-demographic, health, functional, and social factors contribute to the presence of clinically significant anxiety symptoms in centenarians recruited from two Portuguese centenarian studies. The Geriatric Anxiety Inventory - Short Form (GAI-SF) was used to assess anxiety symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 97 centenarians (mean age 101.1 years; SD = 1.5 years; range = 100-108) with no/minor cognitive impairment were included. Clinically significant anxiety symptoms (GAI-SF ≥3) were present in 45.4% (n = 44) of the sample. Main predictive factors included worse health perception, higher number of medical conditions, financial concerns related to medical expenses (income inadequacy) and loneliness. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that along with health status (subjective and objective), income inadequacy related to medical expenses and feeling lonely may predispose centenarians to clinically significant anxiety and be important to their overall well-being. Further research is needed on the repercussions of clinical anxiety in centenarians' quality of life and on co-morbid conditions (e.g. depression) at such advanced ages.
BACKGROUND: Centenarians' psychological well-being is presently of great interest in psychogeriatric research but little is known about factors that specifically account for the presence of clinically relevant anxiety symptoms in this age group. This study examined the presence of anxiety and its predictors in a sample of centenarians and aims to contribute to a better understanding of anxiety determinants in extreme old age. METHODS: We examined how socio-demographic, health, functional, and social factors contribute to the presence of clinically significant anxiety symptoms in centenarians recruited from two Portuguese centenarian studies. The Geriatric Anxiety Inventory - Short Form (GAI-SF) was used to assess anxiety symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 97 centenarians (mean age 101.1 years; SD = 1.5 years; range = 100-108) with no/minor cognitive impairment were included. Clinically significant anxiety symptoms (GAI-SF ≥3) were present in 45.4% (n = 44) of the sample. Main predictive factors included worse health perception, higher number of medical conditions, financial concerns related to medical expenses (income inadequacy) and loneliness. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that along with health status (subjective and objective), income inadequacy related to medical expenses and feeling lonely may predispose centenarians to clinically significant anxiety and be important to their overall well-being. Further research is needed on the repercussions of clinical anxiety in centenarians' quality of life and on co-morbid conditions (e.g. depression) at such advanced ages.
Entities:
Keywords:
centenarians; health; income inadequacy; late life anxiety; loneliness
Authors: Haiyan An; Junhao Lin; Haitao Sun; Lili Xu; Jiaqi Su; Chunyu He; Jiamin Zeng; Peixiang Liang; Songqi He Journal: Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao Date: 2018-07-30