Health Literacy and Anxiety about Aging in Middle-Aged Adults. A Cross-Sectional Study in Babol, Iran

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Geriatric Mental Health Research Center, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Tehran Institute of Psychiatry), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Student Research Committee, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Cardiovascular Nursing Research Center, Rajaie Cardiovascular Institute, Tehran, Iran; Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

4 Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

5 Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, I.R.Iran

6 Lecturer and Researcher in Health and Social Care and Public Health. Faculty of Education and Society, Department of Health and Social Care, University of Sunderland in London, London, United Kingdom.

Abstract

Background and Objective: Middle-aged adults often experience anxiety related to aging, particularly as they face life challenges and health-related concerns associated with getting older. Health literacy is a key factor in managing well-being during this stage of life, especially when dealing with chronic conditions. This study explores the relationship between anxiety about aging and health literacy in middle-aged individuals.

Material and Methods: A descriptive correlational study was carried out in 2024, involving 431 middle-aged residents of Babol city. Participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data were gathered using a demographic questionnaire, the Lasher and Faulkender Anxiety about Aging Scale (AAS) with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.82, and the Iranian Health Literacy Questionnaire (HELIA) with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.94. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 16, including independent t-tests, ANOVA, regression analysis, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

Results: The average score for anxiety about aging was 49.50±8.98, indicating a moderate level, while the mean health literacy score was 67.69±13.86, indicating an adequate level of health literacy. Anxiety about aging was significantly associated with gender (P=0.01), occupation (P=0.02), education (P=0.026), marital status (P=0.029), and income (P=0.002). Health literacy was significantly related to age (P=0.002), education (P=0.001), occupation (P=0.002), insurance coverage (P=0.001), income (P<0.001), and sources of health information (P=0.005). A significant inverse relationship was found between anxiety about aging and health literacy (r=-0.425, P<0.001). All dimensions of anxiety about aging were inversely correlated with every domain of health literacy (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Enhancing health literacy within middle-aged population could play a pivotal role in reducing anxiety related to aging, as individuals with higher health literacy are better equipped to manage health-related challenges and make informed decisions. It is crucial for policymakers to design and implement educational programs that focus on enhancing health literacy and alleviating anxiety about aging among middle-aged individuals.

Keywords

Acknowledgements: The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at Iran University of Medical Sciences and Healthcare Services for their support in approving and facilitating this research project. Additionally, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all the participants who generously contributed their time and insights to make this study possible.


Availability of Data and Materials: The datasets and materials supporting this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.


Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest in this article.


Consent for publication: Not applicable.


Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate: This study received ethical approval from the Ethics Committee of Iran University of Medical Sciences (IR.IUMS.REC.613/1402). The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Participants completed the questionnaires anonymously and were assured of the confidentiality of their responses.


Funding: This research was supported by Iran University of Medical Sciences.


Authors’ Contributions: Supervision of all stages of the research and data analysis: Raziye Sadat Hosseini, Mansoureh Ashghali Farahani, Masoumeh Alijanpour, Atefeh Omrani. Draft writing, project management, editing, and finalization: Ahmad Habibpour. Data analysis: Shima Haghani.

 

Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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