The Anxiety about Aging Scale (AAS) is a vital tool in gerontology and psychology, offering a quantitative method for assessing a person's level of anxiety regarding the process of aging. Created by Lasher and Faulkender, the scale is structured to capture a multidimensional view of aging anxiety, moving beyond simple fear to include psychological, social, and physical dimensions. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the scoring process, from the fundamental Likert scale system to interpreting the different subscales.
The fundamental scoring process
At its core, scoring the AAS is a straightforward process of summation. The scale consists of 20 items, to which a participant responds on a 5-point Likert scale. The scoring procedure requires careful attention to both the wording of the items and the corresponding Likert scale to ensure accurate calculation.
Step 1: Collect responses
The participant completes the 20-item questionnaire, indicating their level of agreement with each statement. The response scale typically ranges from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 5 (Strongly Agree). Some versions of the scale may reverse the descriptors, but the principle remains the same. A higher score on a given item indicates a greater level of anxiety regarding that specific aspect of aging.
Step 2: Identify and reverse-score items
Some items on the AAS are phrased positively to avoid response bias. These must be reverse-scored during the calculation process. For a 5-point scale, the reverse scoring conversion is simple: a score of 1 becomes 5, 2 becomes 4, 3 remains 3, 4 becomes 2, and 5 becomes 1. For example, a statement like "I enjoy talking with old people" would need to be reverse-scored because agreement with this statement indicates lower anxiety, not higher. You must convert the scores of all positively-phrased items before proceeding.
Step 3: Sum the total score
After converting the scores for the reverse-scored items, the final step for calculating the total score is to sum the scores of all 20 items. The total score can range from 20 (minimum) to 100 (maximum). A higher total score on the AAS indicates a higher overall level of anxiety about aging.
Scoring the four subscales
The AAS is particularly useful because it breaks down anxiety into four distinct factors or subscales, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of a person's fears. Each subscale consists of five items. The process for scoring each subscale is the same as the total score, with the scores from the five corresponding items summed after reverse-scoring any necessary items.
1. Fear of Old People
This subscale measures anxiety related to external contact with older individuals. A higher score reflects a greater discomfort or fear when interacting with the elderly.
2. Psychological Concerns
This dimension captures more internal or personal anxieties related to aging. It includes fears about mental decline, finding happiness in later life, and feeling psychologically equipped to handle the aging process.
3. Physical Appearance
The physical appearance subscale specifically addresses anxiety concerning the physical changes associated with aging, such as wrinkles, gray hair, and other visible signs of getting older.
4. Fear of Loss
This subscale focuses on anxieties related to the loss of social support, autonomy, and the death of friends and loved ones. A high score here indicates a significant fear of these potential losses.
Comparison of Anxiety about Aging Scales
While the AAS by Lasher and Faulkender is a prominent tool, other anxiety scales exist for different purposes. It is helpful to compare them to understand the AAS's specific focus.
| Feature | Anxiety about Aging Scale (AAS) | Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS) | Adult Attachment Scale (AAS-R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Specific fears and anxieties related to aging and the elderly. | General anxiety symptoms in older adults. | Adult attachment styles and relationship patterns. |
| Items | 20 items. | 30 items (25 scored). | 18 items (AAS-R). |
| Rating Scale | 5-point Likert scale. | 4-point Likert scale. | 5-point Likert scale. |
| Subscales | Fear of Old People, Psychological Concerns, Physical Appearance, Fear of Loss. | Somatic, Cognitive, Affective. | Close, Depend, Anxiety. |
| Scoring | Sum of 20 items (some reverse-scored); total range 20–100. | Sum of 25 items; total range 0–75. | Mean scores for each subscale. |
Interpreting AAS scores
Interpreting AAS scores moves beyond simple calculation and requires comparing results to normative data or population averages. As a standardized scale, the raw scores themselves have no inherent meaning without context. For instance, while a score of 80 is higher than a score of 40, a clinician would need to compare these scores to the average scores of a similar age group or population to understand their significance.
In a clinical or research setting, the AAS is often used for screening purposes or to track changes over time in response to interventions. A high score might indicate the need for further psychological evaluation or support. The subscale scores are also valuable, as they can highlight specific areas of concern that a person may want to address, such as their fear of physical changes or anxiety about social losses. Some studies have also noted that anxiety levels may differ across age groups, with younger adults sometimes showing higher levels of anxiety about aging than older adults.
The importance of contextual interpretation
Ultimately, AAS scores are just one piece of a larger picture. A mental health professional considers the individual's history, current concerns, and other psychological factors when interpreting the results. For example, a person with a high score on the Fear of Loss subscale might be experiencing grief or social isolation, while a high score on the Physical Appearance subscale could point to issues with body image. The scale provides data to open a dialogue and inform therapy, rather than offering a definitive diagnosis.
Conclusion
Scoring the Anxiety about Aging Scale (AAS) is a clear process involving summing up responses from a 20-item, 5-point Likert scale after accounting for reverse-scored items. The scale yields both a total score and four subscale scores, corresponding to Fear of Old People, Psychological Concerns, Physical Appearance, and Fear of Loss. A higher score in any category indicates greater anxiety. While the calculation is straightforward, proper interpretation requires contextualization with normative data and clinical judgment, using the scores as a guide for further psychological exploration. Understanding how to score and interpret the AAS is essential for researchers and clinicians working to help individuals navigate their fears about aging.
A note on normative data and professional use
It is important to remember that standardized normative data for the AAS is available in professional manuals and academic publications. Access to these resources is typically restricted to licensed professionals. For individuals seeking to understand their own feelings about aging, consulting with a mental health professional is the recommended course of action, as they can administer and interpret the scale appropriately within the context of a person’s overall well-being. For further reading on the scale's development and use, see Lasher and Faulkender's original 1993 article in the International Journal of Aging and Human Development.
