Beyond the anxiety-physical activity link: Family relationships and personality as moderators of daily activity responses to anxiety in older adults

While anxiety is negatively associated with physical activity in older adults, substantial individual variability exists in this relationship. This study examined whether family–based factors (perceived security in attachment to adult children and intergenerational educational mobility) and personality traits (neuroticism and extraversion) moderate the within–person anxiety–physical activity relationship. Using experience sampling methodology, 37 community–dwelling older adults (aged 65–79 years) in Taiwan completed momentary assessments of anxiety and physical activity three times daily for 10 days, yielding 1,108 observations. Hierarchical linear modeling revealed that state anxiety negatively predicted physical activity (b = –1.60, p < .01). Perceived attachment security moderated this relationship (b = –0.20, p < .05): older adults with higher perceived security showed steeper activity declines when anxious, despite higher baseline activity. Similarly, upward intergenerational social mobility amplified the negative association (b = –0.83, p < .05). Neuroticism also moderated the relationship (b = –0.82, p < .05), with the anxiety–physical activity link evident only among highly neurotic individuals. Extraversion showed no moderating effect. Paradoxically, factors typically associated with positive outcomes (strong attachment, upward mobility) amplified rather than buffered anxiety’s inhibitory effects on physical activity. Findings suggest interventions should be tailored to individual profiles: emotion regulation strategies for those with strong family ties and neurotic tendencies, and comprehensive psychosocial interventions for those with limited family resources maintaining chronically low activity levels.