Research article summary (published 30 Aug 2009):

Age differences in anxious responding: older and calmer, unless the trigger is physical.

Full Abstract

The current study examines how the aging relevance of anxiety triggers, particularly those tied to physical threat, influences the expression of anxiety in older and younger adults. It was expected that older adults would exhibit less anxiety than younger adults in response to nonphysical triggers but that this age-related difference would diminish when faced with physical triggers. Anxiety responses were measured in older (N = 49, ages 60-85) and younger (N = 49, ages 17-34) adults in response to (a) physical and social anxiety provocations, and (b) a threat interpretation measure. Consistent with hypotheses, results for the anxiety provocations indicated less anxiety among older (vs. younger) adults on a range of anxiety measures (affective, cognitive, physiological) when triggers did not concern physical health, but this age difference diminished when physical health was threatened. Older adults actually reported more threat interpretations than younger adults to physical threat scenarios. Findings are discussed in terms of the aging relevance of anxiety triggers and theoretical accounts of age-related changes in emotional processing. (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved.

Author information

Author/s: Teachman, Bethany A (BA); Gordon, Tynessa (T);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4400, USA. bteachman(-atsign-)virginia.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Psychology and aging (Psychol Aging), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 24 (issue 3) : pp 703-14

Dates: Created 2009/09/10; Completed 2009/10/13;

PMID: 19739926, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/13/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Aging - psychology Anxiety - psychology Arousal Fear Female Heart Rate

Humans Individuality Male Middle Aged Personality Inventory - statistics & numerical data Psychometrics Self Concept Somatoform Disorders - psychology Stress, Psychological - complications Young Adult

Related articles

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

• Efficacy of progressive muscle relaxation for reducing state anxiety among elderly adults on memory tasks. 29 Nov 1993
• Age-related variation in the influences of aging stereotypes on memory in adulthood. 30 Aug 2006
• Aging, emotional states, and memory. 27 Feb 1993
• On the generalizability of the age-related decline in coping with high-arousal conditions in a precision sport: replication and extension. 27 Feb 1991
• The effects of anxiety on attentional processes in older adults. 30 Oct 2005

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a large map of 100+ related articles.