Prediction of death anxiety, according to religious orientation and loneliness in elderly in Arak city

Abstract

Introduction: Ageing is a sensitive period of life that attention to the needs and problems of this stage is a social necessity. A common feature among elderly is death anxiety that has close relationship with loneliness and religious. Accordingly, The aim of this study was predicting death anxiety according to religious orientation and loneliness the elderly in Arak city. Method: This study was a descriptive correlational, conducted on 247 elderly who were selected by convenience sampling. Death Anxiety Scale, Alportʼs Religious Orientation, and loneliness were used for data gatheing. Data were analyzed using descriptive and statistics including Pearson correlation coefficient and regression. Results: The results showed a significant relationship between internal religious orientation (r=-0/66, p<0.01), external religious orientation (r=0/56, p<0.01) and loneliness (r=-0/54, p<0.01) with death anxiety. Beta coefficients for predictor variables indicated internal religious orientation -0/657, external religious orientation 0/446, loneliness 0/562 have significantly predictive capability of death anxiety of elderly (p<0.05). Also, the results showed religious orientation and loneliness can predict the changes in death anxiety potential up to 39%. Conclusion: The results of the research indicate that Internal religious orientation and loneliness have effective role in the amount of the death anxiety in the elderly.