Aging Anxiety as a Developmental Phenomenon: A Scoping Review and Multilevel Life-Course Model

Abstract As global populations age, aging anxiety (AA) has emerged as a significant psychosocial concern influencing how individuals anticipate, experience, and respond to later life. Despite growing scholarly attention, AA remains conceptually fragmented and insufficiently integrated across theoretical and developmental perspectives. This scoping review aims to systematically map and synthesize contemporary evidence on AA across the adult lifespan, integrate its psychological, physical, and structural determinants into a coherent explanatory framework, and critically examine interventions designed to mitigate its effects. A systematic search was conducted across seven electronic databases (Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, ProQuest, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO) to identify peer-reviewed English-language studies published between 2014 and 2024 addressing AA and related constructs. Following title and abstract screening, full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. Data extraction was performed and cross-checked by multiple reviewers. Across 108 studies, Findings indicate that AA is associated with a wide range of psychological, physical, social, and structural factors. Prominent risk factors included ageism, declining health, loneliness, psychological distress, chronic illness, and caregiving burden. Protective factors consistently identified across studies encompassed better physical and mental health, life satisfaction, social support, resilience, emotional intelligence, and regular physical activity. Importantly, several intervention approaches, particularly educational, reflective, and intergenerational programs, demonstrated promise in reducing AA. This review reconceptualizes AA as a multidimensional, modifiable, and life-course phenomenon shaped by structural and psychosocial factors, offering critical insights to inform targeted interventions and policy initiatives that promote positive aging across the lifespan.