Personality characteristics, sense of coherence, and late-life anxiety: A structural equation modeling

Introduction and aim: Research shows that personality characteristics play an important role in studying factors affecting anxiety among older adults. Despite the importance of this relationship, its underlying mechanism is still unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the mediating role of sense of coherence in the relationship between neuroticism and self-esteem as personality characteristics and anxiety among older adults.Methods: A cross-sectional and correlational design was used for this study. The sample included ۲۳۰ community-dwelling older adults (aged ۶۰-۹۷) from November to December ۲۰۱۹ in Tehran. Data on sociodemographic variables, Geriatric Anxiety Inventory-۲۰ (Pachana, ۲۰۰۷), Sense of Coherence-۱۳ (Antonovsky, ۱۹۹۳), Big Five Inventory (Rammstedt & John, ۲۰۰۷) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, ۱۹۶۵) based on a multi-stage sampling approach were collected and analyzed with the structural equation modeling. Results: The older adults with high scores in neuroticism and low self-esteem showed a low level of sense of coherence. Low level of sense of coherence was associated with fewer symptoms of anxiety in older adults. Besides, sense of coherence partially mediated the relationship between personality characteristics (neuroticism and self-esteem) and anxiety in the elderly.Conclusion: Regarding the mediating effect of sense of coherence in the relationship between personality characteristics (neuroticism and self-esteem) and anxiety, improving the level of sense of coherence may be an acceptable intervention to alleviate anxiety among older adults that suffer from neuroticism and low self-esteem.