Aging Anxiety and Physical Activity Outcomes among Middle and Older Age African Americans
Aging is a natural process but may lead to aging anxiety due to physical and mental health changes. Aging anxiety is more prevalent among African Americans compared to Whites. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between aging anxiety, its four constructs including fear of older adults (c...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Ubiquity Press
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Physical Activity and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://account.paahjournal.com/index.php/up-j-pah/article/view/287 |
| _version_ | 1797502872649203712 |
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| author | Lillie Monroe-Lord Elgloria Harrison Azam Ardakani Sarah L. Francis Furong Xu Melissa Ventura Marra Lee Weidauer Anna E. Arthur Nadine R. Sahyoun |
| author_facet | Lillie Monroe-Lord Elgloria Harrison Azam Ardakani Sarah L. Francis Furong Xu Melissa Ventura Marra Lee Weidauer Anna E. Arthur Nadine R. Sahyoun |
| author_sort | Lillie Monroe-Lord |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aging is a natural process but may lead to aging anxiety due to physical and mental health changes. Aging anxiety is more prevalent among African Americans compared to Whites. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between aging anxiety, its four constructs including fear of older adults (contact with older adults), psychological concerns (personal/internal issues), physical appearance (physical changes), and fear of loss (loss of autonomy and social relationships), with the different types of physical activity (PA), as well as the attitudes toward PA. A total of 178 African American adults aged 40 years and older completed an online Qualtrics survey. The Lasher and Faulkender survey was utilized for the purposes of obtaining data on aging anxiety. PA was measured using questions derived from the National Health Interview Survey questionnaire and miscellaneous Questions for PA attitudes. The results revealed that fear of loss was the most anxiety-inducing factor among the participants. Females were more fearful of older adults and more anxious about aging than males. Possessing an enjoyable attitude toward PA was associated with less fear of older adults, fewer psychological concerns, and a lower total score of aging anxiety. Physical appearance constructs were correlated with age and strengthening exercises. Younger participants were more worried about their appearance than older participants. Fear of loss was higher among single and lower-income participants. Interventions and mental health programs should consider addressing the fear of loss and promoting a positive attitude toward PA to alleviate aging anxiety among middle-aged and older African Americans. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:42:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cf5aa79c05fb47098e23b1dd55ca352e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2515-2270 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:42:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Ubiquity Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Physical Activity and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-cf5aa79c05fb47098e23b1dd55ca352e2023-11-23T09:17:13ZengUbiquity PressPhysical Activity and Health2515-22702023-10-0171281–292281–29210.5334/paah.287287Aging Anxiety and Physical Activity Outcomes among Middle and Older Age African AmericansLillie Monroe-Lord0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1131-9626Elgloria Harrison1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2627-9524Azam Ardakani2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3863-6111Sarah L. Francis3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7761-5220Furong Xu4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4377-6461Melissa Ventura Marra5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5227-3313Lee Weidauer6https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7058-330XAnna E. Arthur7https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5208-4336Nadine R. Sahyoun8https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2309-1868College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, and Environmental Sciences, University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC 20008Lehman College City University of New York, West, Bronx, NY 10468College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, and Environmental Sciences, University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC 20008Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011School of Education, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881School of Agriculture and Foods, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506School of Health and Consumer Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742Aging is a natural process but may lead to aging anxiety due to physical and mental health changes. Aging anxiety is more prevalent among African Americans compared to Whites. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between aging anxiety, its four constructs including fear of older adults (contact with older adults), psychological concerns (personal/internal issues), physical appearance (physical changes), and fear of loss (loss of autonomy and social relationships), with the different types of physical activity (PA), as well as the attitudes toward PA. A total of 178 African American adults aged 40 years and older completed an online Qualtrics survey. The Lasher and Faulkender survey was utilized for the purposes of obtaining data on aging anxiety. PA was measured using questions derived from the National Health Interview Survey questionnaire and miscellaneous Questions for PA attitudes. The results revealed that fear of loss was the most anxiety-inducing factor among the participants. Females were more fearful of older adults and more anxious about aging than males. Possessing an enjoyable attitude toward PA was associated with less fear of older adults, fewer psychological concerns, and a lower total score of aging anxiety. Physical appearance constructs were correlated with age and strengthening exercises. Younger participants were more worried about their appearance than older participants. Fear of loss was higher among single and lower-income participants. Interventions and mental health programs should consider addressing the fear of loss and promoting a positive attitude toward PA to alleviate aging anxiety among middle-aged and older African Americans.https://account.paahjournal.com/index.php/up-j-pah/article/view/287aging anxietyphysical activitygenderafrican americanmiddle-ageolder adults |
| spellingShingle | Lillie Monroe-Lord Elgloria Harrison Azam Ardakani Sarah L. Francis Furong Xu Melissa Ventura Marra Lee Weidauer Anna E. Arthur Nadine R. Sahyoun Aging Anxiety and Physical Activity Outcomes among Middle and Older Age African Americans Physical Activity and Health aging anxiety physical activity gender african american middle-age older adults |
| title | Aging Anxiety and Physical Activity Outcomes among Middle and Older Age African Americans |
| title_full | Aging Anxiety and Physical Activity Outcomes among Middle and Older Age African Americans |
| title_fullStr | Aging Anxiety and Physical Activity Outcomes among Middle and Older Age African Americans |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aging Anxiety and Physical Activity Outcomes among Middle and Older Age African Americans |
| title_short | Aging Anxiety and Physical Activity Outcomes among Middle and Older Age African Americans |
| title_sort | aging anxiety and physical activity outcomes among middle and older age african americans |
| topic | aging anxiety physical activity gender african american middle-age older adults |
| url | https://account.paahjournal.com/index.php/up-j-pah/article/view/287 |
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