Regional and individual associations of ageing anxiety with mental health outcomes and life quality

Ageing anxiety refers to worries and fears about potential ageing-related problems, negatively impacting mental health and quality of life. This study aims to assess the current levels of ageing anxiety among the elderly in three cities in China, and to explore the influencing factors contributing to this anxiety. A cross-sectional study was conducted using quota sampling to select 300 elderly participants from Zhuhai, Luzhou, and Bijie. Data were collected through the Chinese versions of the Anxiety About Ageing Scale (AAS), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the World Health Organisation Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). The average ageing anxiety scores were 52.61 ± 11.41 for Zhuhai, 50.74 ± 10.69 for Luzhou, and 52.93 ± 9.67 for Bijie, indicating that participants across these regions experienced a moderate level of ageing anxiety. Significant differences in ageing anxiety scores were observed based on living conditions, monthly income, and the number of chronic diseases in Zhuhai and Luzhou ( P < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed positive associations with depression ( r = 0.522–0.625, P < 0.01) and insomnia ( r = 0.571–0.709, P < 0.01), as well as a negative association with quality of life ( r =-0.890–-0.921, P < 0.01). The identified influencing factors emphasise the need for targeted interventions to enhance mental health and reduce ageing anxiety in regions facing similar circumstances.