The Relationship Between Aging Anxiety and Depression in Middle-Aged Adults: The Moderating Effect of Gratitude Disposition

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the moderating effect of gratitude disposition on the relationship between aging related anxiety and depression in middle-aged adults. Gratitude disposition was divided into two subfactors, and the moderating effect was analyzed for each. METHODS: A total of 489 participants aged 40 to 64 years completed an online self-report questionnaire. Data from 28 participants who did not meet the recruitment criteria or provide insincere responses were excluded, resulting in a final analysis of 461 participants (mean age=51.15 years, standard deviation=6.99 years, 216 males, 245 females). The PROCESS Macro for SPSS version 2.16 was used to verify the moderating effect. RESULTS: First, aging anxiety was positively related to depression. Second, gratitude disposition moderated the relationship between aging, anxiety, and depression. Third, recognition and acknowledgment of objects of gratitude moderated the relationship between aging, anxiety, and depression. Fourth, the "experience of gratitude emotion and response tendency" moderated the relationship between aging anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION: These results provide a theoretical basis for the development and application of intervention programs targeting middle-aged individuals experiencing psychological problems related to aging anxiety and depression.