Health anxiety among older people: an exploratory study of health anxiety and safety behaviors in a cohort of older adults in New Zealand

Abstract

Generally low levels of HA among this cohort of older individuals challenged the pervasive stereotype of the "hypochondriacal" older person. Factors contributing to HA were similar to those reported in studies with younger cohorts. Findings provided preliminary support for the applicability of the cognitive behavioral model of HA to adults over 65. Implications of the findings and directions for future research were discussed.

Anxiety-related constructs mediate the relation between age and health anxiety

“…At present, few studies have examined health anxiety in older adults (e.g., Boston & Merrick, 2010;BourgaultFagnou & Hadjistavropoulos, 2009), and little research has examined emotion regulation and perceived anxiety control in relation to health anxiety (e.g., Bourgault-Fagnou & Hadjistavropoulos, 2009;Fergus & Valentiner, 2010). This study examined anxiety-related constructs as mediators between age and health anxiety.…”

“…An examination of community-dwelling older adults of ages 65 and older in New Zealand (Boston & Merrick, 2010) revealed that older adults reported similar levels of health anxiety as young adults. However, data were collected only with older adults and findings were compared to published data on young adults without chronic illnesses (e.g., Salkovskis, Rimes, Warwick, & Clark, 2002).…”

Dementia anxiety among older adult caregivers: an exploratory study of older adult caregivers in Canada

“…Future research could also investigate the relationships between dementia anxiety and health anxiety. Boston and Merrick (2010) have generally found low levels of health anxiety in older adults, but the relative prevalence of dementia anxiety and health anxiety generally should also be examined. Might dementia anxiety be more prevalent than health anxiety?…”

Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones: The Effects of Emotional Abuse

“…Age would therefore seem be a contributory factor in some way, in that more negative events will have been experienced in an older person. This is bolstered by a stereotype of older people being more concerned about their health and exhibiting health anxiety (Boston & Merrick, 2010). There is evidence to suggest that research has irrevocably linked cumulative disadvantage to age, but, according to Dannefer (2003) Reyome, Ward, and Witkiewitz, 2010).…”

“…It is also thought that concern for health increases, and the perception of good health decreases with age, but that this is only seen in older adults (Boston & Merrick, 2010). This sample contained young and middle age adults, not older adults, but the opportunity to explore any mediating effect of age was seen as important.…”