Development and validation of the aging anxiety scale for Korean middle-aged adults

This study was designed to develop a valid and reliable tool to measure the aging anxiety of middle-aged Koreans. In Study 1, preliminary items for the aging anxiety scale for Korean middle-aged adults (AAS-KM) were selected based on the existing AAS, related literature, and in-depth interviews. We conducted an online survey of 301 middle-aged adults aged 40 to 59 years old, and an exploratory factor analysis to assess the factor structure of the scale. In Study 2, we conducted an online survey of 305 middle-aged adults aged 40 to 59, a confirmatory factor analysis, and a correlation analysis with relevant variables. As a result, the Aging Anxiety Scale for Korean middle-aged adults (AAS-KM) with 26 items across five factors was developed. The AAS-KM will serve as the foundation for activating various empirical studies and discussions on aging in Korean society.