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Predictors of anxiety in centenarians: health, economic factors, and loneliness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 August 2014

Oscar Ribeiro ,
Laetitia Teixeira ,
Lia Araújo ,
Rosa Marina Afonso  and
Nancy Pachana
Oscar Ribeiro*
Affiliation:
UnIFai/ICBAS, University of Porto, ESSUA and Higher Institute of Social Service of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Laetitia Teixeira
Affiliation:
UnIFai/ICBAS, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Lia Araújo
Affiliation:
UnIFai/ICBAS, University of Porto and ESEV, Viseu, Portugal
Rosa Marina Afonso
Affiliation:
UnIFai/ICBAS, University of Porto and University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
Nancy Pachana
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Oscar Ribeiro, UNIFAI/ICBAS (Research and Education Unit on Ageing), Department of Behavioral Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. Phone: +351220428161. Email: oribeiro@ua.pt.
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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.

Keywords

late life anxietycentenarianshealthincome inadequacyloneliness
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 27 , Special Issue 7: Late Life Anxiety , July 2015 , pp. 1167 - 1176
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2014 

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