Journal List > J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs > v.19(1) > 1057889

Kim, Kwon, Choi, Park, and Kim: Psychological and Spiritual Factors Associated with Death Anxiety of Elderly People Living at Home

Abstract

Purpose

The study was done to investigate psychological spiritual factors related to death anxiety of elderly living at home.

Methods

A descriptive correlation study was conducted. The participants were 494 living at home elderly people conveniently selected in Seoul and Kyunggi province. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, correlation and stepwise multiple regression were used for data analysis.

Results

The death anxiety positively correlated with depression and negatively with self-integrity, readiness of death, belief in life after death, and spiritual well-being. The factors influencing death anxiety were self-integrity, readiness of death, depression, and belief in life after death. Those four variables explained 21.6% of death anxiety.

Conclusion

It is expected to serve as a useful tool for nurses who serve elderly people in the clinical field and local community to help get a better understanding of death, and it is expected to lay a theoretical foundation for the development of strategies geared toward alleviating death anxiety.

Figures and Tables

Table 1
General Characteristics of the Subjects (N=494)
jkapmhn-19-96-i001
Table 2
Descriptive Statistics of Death Anxiety and Its Related Variables (N=494)
jkapmhn-19-96-i002
Table 3
Differences of Death Anxiety according to General Characteristics (N=494)
jkapmhn-19-96-i003

Post-Hoc (Duncan's test).

Table 4
Correlations between Death Anxiety and the Related Variables
jkapmhn-19-96-i004
Table 5
Influencing Factors on Death Anxiety
jkapmhn-19-96-i005

References

1. Choi GJ. The effect of the spiritual well-being of the aged on ego integrity and death anxiety. Daegu: Catholic University of Daegu;2009. Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
2. Choi JK. A study on the effects of elderly people's participation in religious activities and social support upon uneasiness about death. Jeongju: Cheongju Universit;2005. Unpublished master's thesis.
3. Collett LJ, Lester D. The fear of death and the fear of dying. J Psychol. 1969; 72:179–181.
crossref
4. Erikson EH. The life cycle completed: A review. New York: Norton;1997.
5. Hong CY. Reminiscence functions predictors in the elderly. Seoul: Ewha Womans University;2000. Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
6. Hong KJ. The effect of social supports on life satisfaction of the aged and the anxiety of death. Daegu: Catholic University of Daegu;2009. Unpublished master's thesis.
7. Jang WB. The influence of religion on old men's anxiety about death. Daegu: Keimyung University;2003. Unpublished master's thesis.
8. Jeon YG. A study of factors influencing the death anxiety in the old age. Daejeon: Mokwon University;2000. Unpublished master's thesis.
9. Jung CG. The collected works of C. G. Jung (Vol. 8; Vol. 9, 387-420). Princeton: Princeton University Press;1969.
10. Kee BS. A preliminary study for the standardization of geriatric depression scale short form-Korea version. J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc. 1996; 35(2):298–307.
11. Kim HG. Relationship between spiritual well-being and anxiety toward death of the elderly in-patients. Busan: Kosin University;2007. Unpublished master's thesis.
12. Kim JE. An influence of home visiting hospice on the basis of social support on the old people's attitude toward death. Gwangju: Honam University;2003. Unpublished master's thesis.
13. Kim KJ. A study of death anxiety according to religious participation for aging people. Seoul: Ewha Womans University;1993. Unpublished master's thesis.
14. Kim YL. A study on religious life and attitude to death for older adults. Seoul: Hanyoung Theological University;2003. Unpublished master's thesis.
15. Kwon OG. A Survey on the determinants of death anxiety in nursing-home residents. J Welfare Aged. 2008; 41:27–50.
16. Lee DH. A study on factors affecting the degree of anxiety about death in the senior population -focusing on those using senior welfare centers-. Busan: Kyungsung University;2005. Unpublished master's thesis.
17. Lee KH. A study on death of the aged -focusing on analysis of the attitudes toward death and the demand for death preparatory education-. Seoul: Hanseo University;2008. Unpublished master's thesis.
18. Lee YJ. A study on the relationship between elderly consciousness regarding preparation for death and anxiety of death -focused on those using the welfare center for the elderly-. Seoul: Catholic University of Korea;Unpublished master's thesis.
19. Miler JF. Coping with chronic illness, overcoming powerlessness. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis Company;1992.
20. Moon NS. The influence of death preparation and forgiveness of the elderly on successful aging -focused on the mediating effects of depression and death anxiety-. Chongju: Chongju University;2009. Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
21. Oh MN, Choi WS. A study on self-esteem, death anxiety and depression of the elderly in home and facilities. J Korean Home Econ Assoc. 2003; 43(3):105–118.
22. Oh SC. Study of senior housing residents' fear of death. Seoul: Soongsil University;2008. Unpublished master's thesis.
23. Paloutzian RF, Ellison CW. Spiritual well-being: Conceptualization and measurement. J Psychol Theol. 1983; 11(4):330–340.
crossref
24. Park JY. Effects of spiritual well-being and perceived attitude toward death on death anxiety for the elderly. Seoul: Ajou University;2007. Unpublished master's thesis.
25. Park KJ. Elderly preparation for death and anxiety of death. Gwangju: Chosun University;2009. Unpublished master's thesis.
26. Ryu HO. Death anxiety among the middle aged and the elderly -focused on afterlife and the readiness to death-. Seoul: Sungshin Women's University;2004. Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
27. Shin MC. A study on participation in religion and acceptance attitude toward death of the elderly. Jeongju: Cheongju University;2002. Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
28. Sim MK. The relationships between death anxiety and social support in the elderly people. Busan: Pusan National University;2002. Unpublished master's thesis.
29. Statistics Korea. Annual Report: Population projections. 2005. Retrieved August 9, 2008. from http://www.kosis.kr.
30. Young QP. Health promotion for older adults: Evaluation of a cognitive behavioral intervention. USA: University of Montana;1997. Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
TOOLS
Similar articles