The Mediating Role of Spirituality and Personal Values Between Personality Dimensions and Death Anxiety in the Elderly

Objective: The present study aims to formulate a model of death anxiety (DA) in the elderly living in nursing homes based on personal values (PV) and spirituality and with the mediating role of gender.  Methods: The present research was conducted using correlational method and path analysis. The statistical population included all the elderly living in private nursing homes in Tehran City, Iran, in the summer and autumn of ۲۰۲۳, of which ۳۴۰ people were selected by the convenience sampling method. During one session and individually, the participants responded to the Templer DA scale (DAS) (۱۹۷۰), Schwartz’s value survey, the spiritual questionnaire, and the HEXACO personality inventory-revised. Results: The results showed that the total path coefficient (PC) between PV (β=-۰.۲۱۱, P=۰.۰۰۱) and spirituality (β=-۰.۱۹۲, P=۰.۰۰۱) were significant with DA. Indirect PC of extraversion (P=۰.۰۰۱, β=-۰.۰۵۴), conscientiousness (β=-۰.۰۵۸, P=۰.۰۰۱), humility (P=۰.۰۴۹, β=-۰.۰۲۳) and emotionality (P=۰.۰۰۱, β=۰.۰۳۸) were significant with DA. The indirect PC between PV (P=۰.۰۰۱, β=۰.۰۳۷) and spirituality (P=۰.۰۰۱, β=۰.۰۶۰) with DA was negative and significant. Therefore, DA mediates the relationship between personality dimensions (PDs), PV, and spirituality. The research model was different in terms of fit with the data of two groups of women and men.  Conclusion: Multiple psychological mechanisms can predict DA in the elderly.

کلیدواژه ها:

Death anxiety (DA) ، Personality dimensions (PDs) ، Personal values (PV) ، Spirituality ، Elderly