Anxiety About Aging in University Students Comparisons by Gender

Abstract

The aim of this research was to compare the profiles of anxiety about aging in Mexican university students to aging. The total sample was of 1669 subjects; 851 women and 818 men with a mean age of 20.53 years (SD = 2.82) and 20.89 years (SD = 2.03) respectively. The approach adopted in the research is framed within a quantitative approach with a descriptive survey design. The results of the multivariate analysis of variance followed by analyzes of univariate variance, are the ones who show higher levels of anxiety to the fear of loss of social support and autonomy, while men manifest higher levels of anxiety as to contact with the elderly. The differences between men and women regarding anxiety about aging, suggest that in designing any intervention that aims to reduce this anxiety must be taken into account gender variable. Future research should replicate these findings in larger samples.