Aging Anxiety in Pakistani Gen Z: AAS Scores and Perceptions of Genetic Influence

Abstract

Background: Aging Anxiety, formerly considered as a condition of older adults, is also commonly observed among the younger age groups. Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the anxiety of aging among Generation Z in Pakistan by combining psychological testing with perceptions of genetic effects on mental health and aging processes. Methods: The survey was a cross-sectional study of 106 respondents of age 17-28 years in the month of June 2025, through a structured questionnaire on Google Forms. The data contained demographics, caregiving status, use of social media and education level. The aging score was covered with the help of the Anxiety about Aging Scale (AAS). In addition, questions involving genetics were posed to establish the awareness of genetic mental health and age-related diseases. The meaning of results was determined by comparing with p-value (p < 0.05). Results: Findings showed that 66 % of respondents thought that genetics has a contribution in mental health and aging anxiety, 62% had family longevity, and 15% had a family history of age-related diseases like Alzheimer or Parkinson disease. Mean AAS score was a little higher in female (66.78) than in males (66.47). In all demographics, the scores exceeded the midpoint (60) of the AAS scale (20-100 score), suggesting a notable trend toward aging anxiety above the scale midpoint. The results revealed no significant differences in anxiety scores across gender, residential background, or caregiving status. Conclusion: This study shows aging anxiety has developed in Generation Z in Pakistan and needs to be addressed in future studies.