Anxiety-related behaviors in older adults: comparison with younger adults and associations with generalized anxiety disorder symptoms

Objectives Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one of the most common anxiety disorders among older adults, and its impact on functioning is well-documented. Because its core cognitive and somatic symptoms overlap with age-related changes and comorbidities, GAD can be difficult to diagnose. Highlighting observable behaviours is essential, as they help detect an under-recognized disorder and distinguish anxiety from other conditions. Some researchers suggest that identifying anxiety-related behaviors in older adults and comparing them to those of younger adults may improve GAD recognition in later life.Methods This study compared anxiety-related behaviors in 321 older adults (M = 67.25 years) with those of adults aged 25 to 45 (M = 33.28 years, n = 273) and examined whether associations between behaviors and GAD symptoms differed across age.Results Older adults were more likely to engage in overplanning and checking and less likely to engage in reassurance-seeking compared to younger adults. Although older adults exhibited fewer anxiety-related behaviors, associations with GAD symptoms were similar across groups. All behaviors were related to GAD symptoms in older adults and predicted them.Conclusion These results suggest that anxiety-related behaviors literature applies to older adults and highlights specific behavioral manifestations, clarifying GAD profile in this population.