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

Objective: Few studies have examined health anxiety in older adults, and it is unknown which factors account for age-related differences in health anxiety. Given similarities between health anxiety and the anxiety disorders, anxiety-related constructs, including anxiety sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty, emotion regulation, and anxiety control, were examined as mediators of the relation between age (older vs. young adults) and health anxiety.

Methods: Eighty-six older adults aged 60 and older and 117 young adults aged 18 to 30 completed several self-report measures of health anxiety and anxiety-related constructs.

Results: Young adults reported higher levels of health anxiety than older adults. Anxiety sensitivity and intolerance of uncertainty partially mediated the relation between age and health anxiety. Perceived anxiety control, reappraisal, and suppression did not mediate the relation between age and health anxiety.

Conclusions: Anxiety sensitivity and intolerance of uncertainty are predisposing characteristics that appear to partially explain age-related differences in health anxiety. These constructs may be necessary targets for assessment and interventions among older and young adults.