Testing and Comparing the Causal Relationship Between Spiritual and Social Capital and Depression With the Mediating Role of Death Anxiety in the Elderly With and Without Spouse

Abstract

Objectives The world population is rapidly aging, and depression is a common mental disorder among the elderly. This study aimed to test the causal model of depression based on spiritual and social capital through death anxiety in the elderly. Methods & Materials The statistical population included all the elderly in Tehran City in 2020, from which 371 people were selected by convenience sampling. They answered online questionnaires about depression, death anxiety, and spiritual and social capital. Data were analyzed using the path analysis method using Amos software. Results The results showed that spiritual and social capital variables had an indirect and significant relationship with depression through death anxiety. The direct connection between spiritual capital and depression was not significant. But in addition to the indirect relationship, there was a significant direct relationship between social capital and depression. In other words, according to the findings, social capital was associated with depression in addition to its immediate effect on death anxiety. Still, spiritual capital had all its impact on depression through death anxiety. Also, the comparison of the model between the two groups of elderly people with and without a spouse showed that the marital status of the model does not moderate. Conclusion Spiritual and social capital effectively predicts depression in the elderly and its direct effect through death anxiety.