Gerascophobia or Excessive Fear of Aging Scale (GEFAS): Development, validation, and exploration of psychometric properties of a brief instrument using classical testing theory and item response theory.

Journal: Archives of gerontology and geriatrics

Volume: 128

Issue: 

Year of Publication: 

Affiliated Institutions:  Department of Humanities, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad Campus, Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: drsukoon@gmail.com. Department of Humanities, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad Campus, Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: prof.academy.psy@gmail.com. Department of Humanities, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad Campus, Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: ahmadhusainmahoo@gmail.com. Department of Training and Movement Science, Institute of Sport Science, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; Research Laboratory, Molecular Bases of Human Pathology, LRES, Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax , Tunisia. Electronic address: acammar@uni-mainz.de. Department of Pediatrics, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Government Hospitals, Manama, Bahrain; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain. Electronic address: halfaraj@hotmail.com. High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax , Tunisia; Research Laboratory: Education, Motricity, Sport and Health, EMS, LRJS, University of Sfax, Sfax , Tunisia. Electronic address: trabelsikhaled@gmail.com. Centre for Research and Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, , India; Division of Research and Development, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, , India. Electronic address: pandiperumal@gmail.com. Department of Nursing, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden. Electronic address: amir.pakpour@ju.se. Government Hospitals, Manama, Bahrain; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain. Electronic address: haitham.jahrami@outlook.com.

Abstract summary 

Gerascophobia, or excessive fear of aging, is thought to be caused by a mixture of cognitive, experiential, and physiological factors acting on a person at particular time points. Measurement tools for evaluating geraschophobia remain insufficiently developed, despite this commonplace fear's distress.The objective of the current study was to develop and validate the Gerascophobia or Excessive Fear of Aging Scale (GEFAS) and analyze its psychometric properties.Three successive investigations were carried out with a total of 1594 participants. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to evaluate the construct validity of the GEFAS. Convergent and discriminant validity was assessed by examining relationships with measures of depression, anxiety, stress, death anxiety, psychosocial illness, and life satisfaction. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate factors that predict fear of aging.The GEFAS demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach alpha >0.8). Factor analysis supported a single-factor solution for the scale (fitness indices CFI, TLI, NNFI, NFI, RFI, and MFI all > 0.95; RMSEA=0.06. Significant positive correlations were found between fear of aging and depression (r = 0.270; p < 0.01), anxiety (r = 0.311; p < 0.01), stress (r = 0.285; p < 0.01), death anxiety (r = 0.600; p < 0.01), and psychosocial illness (r = 0.243; p < 0.01). A significant inverse correlation was observed with life satisfaction. Gender differences were also noted, with women exhibiting greater fear of aging than men (p < 0.01; d = 0.488).The GEFAS fills a significant gap in the psychological/psychiatric literature as a useful tool for evaluating the fear of aging. The study concludes that the excessive fear of aging contributes to poor mental health.

Authors & Co-authors:  Husain Waqar W Ijaz Farrukh F Husain Muhammad Ahmad MA Achraf Ammar A Isa Hasan M HM Trabelsi Khaled K Pandi-Perumal Seithikurippu R SR Pakpour Amir H AH Jahrami Haitham H

Study Outcome 

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Citations : 
Authors :  9
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1016/j.archger.2024.105599
SSN : 1872-6976
Study Population
Men,Women
Mesh Terms
Other Terms
Ageism;Brief fear of aging scale;Fear of aging;Gerascophobia;Psychometric properties;Psychosocial correlates
Study Design
Exploratory Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Publication Country
Netherlands