Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40711671›Full record

ArticleGeroScience2026

Psychological predictors of gerascophobia among middle-aged and older adults: the role of health anxiety and body image satisfaction.

Samira Ahmed Alsenany

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in GeroScience, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

1 author.

Samira Ahmed AlsenanyPublic Health Department, Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Salsenany@kau.edu.sa.ORCID 0009-0002-2811-0458

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Gerascophobia-the excessive fear of aging-is linked to health anxiety and negative body perceptions. While health anxiety may heighten aging-related fears, body image satisfaction may buffer this effect. However, their interplay remains underexplored, particularly among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults not receiving psychological care. This study aims to examine the predictive role of health anxiety on gerascophobia and assess whether body image satisfaction moderates this relationship among middle-aged and older adults. A cross-sectional analytical design was employed involving 539 community-dwelling adults aged 40-65 in Saudi Arabia. Participants completed validated Arabic versions of the Health Anxiety Inventory, Gerascophobia Scale, and Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2). Data were analyzed using correlation and regression analyses, including moderation testing with the PROCESS macro. Health anxiety positively predicted gerascophobia (B = 0.13, p < 0.001), while body image satisfaction was negatively associated (B =  - 0.38, p < 0.001). A significant interaction effect (B =  - 0.12, p < 0.001) indicated that the relationship between health anxiety and gerascophobia was strongest at low levels of body image satisfaction and non-significant at high levels. Body image satisfaction buffers the impact of health anxiety on gerascophobia, emphasizing its protective role. These findings suggest that mental health and nursing professionals should assess and address health anxiety and body image concerns to mitigate aging-related distress and promote emotional resilience in aging populations.

Indexed as

AgingAnxietyBody ImagePersonal SatisfactionPhobic DisordersAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSaudi ArabiaAgingBody image satisfactionGerascophobiaHealth anxietyMiddle-aged adultsModerationPsychological distress

Identifiers

PMID40711671
PMCPMC12972265

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.