Subjective Health Status, Religiosity and Fear of Death of the Elderly in Rural Communities

Han, Young Ran

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was performed to investigate the level of subjective health status, religiosity and the fear of death of the elderly and to identify the relationships among them.
METHODS
This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study using a questionnaire. Fear of Death Scale that was made by Loo & Shea (1996) and translated and revised by Kim(2003) was used to measure the fear of death. The data was analyzed using SPSS.
RESULTS
The subject was 128 community dwelling elders who had a religion. Of the respondents, 50% felt 'not healthy', and 69.5% was moderately religious. The mean score of FODS was 3.18 (out of 5). The mean score of each subcategory of FODS was as follows: Death anxiety about the death of self was 3.00. Death anxiety about the dying of self was 3.18. Death anxiety about the death of others was 3.31 and death anxiety about the dying of others was 3.23. There was a statistically significance correlation between the level of religiosity and FODS (F=3.29, p=.040).
CONCLUSION
Health professionals may make efforts to learn about healthy attitudes toward death and aid for the elderly and to comfort them. Death education programs are needed for the elderly.