Impact of Death Anxiety on Psychological Well-Being and Successful Aging of Older Adults With Chronic Illness.

Abstract

Comorbidities due to aging and the COVID-19 pandemic together are expected to cause death anxiety among older adults. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of death anxiety and its impact on psychological well-being and successful aging of older adults with chronic illness. A cross-sectional correlational survey was conducted on 79 older adults with chronic illness, drawn with a stratified random sampling method. Self-report measures were used to assess death anxiety, psychological well-being, and successful aging. A high prevalence of death anxiety was reported among older adults. Psychological well-being and successful aging in these older adults were significantly and negatively associated with death anxiety. Further, death anxiety showed substantial predictive valence for psychological well-being and successful aging of older adults with chronic illness. Findings strongly advocate and call for timely intervention programs for chronically ill older adults to reduce their death anxiety for enhanced psychological well-being and promote successful aging.