J Korean Acad Nurs.  2015 Apr;45(2):262-270. 10.4040/jkan.2015.45.2.262.

Effects of Death Anxiety and Meaning of Life on Somatization of Grandparent Raising Grandchildren

• Kim SY

• KMID: 2359864
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2015.45.2.262

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted in order to examine the effects of death anxiety and meaning of life on somatization of grandparents raising grandchildren.
METHODS
A convenience sample of 92 elderly grandparents raising grandchildren was recruited. The study instrument for death anxiety was the 5-point 15 items scale designed by Templer and translated by Ko, Choi, & Lee and for meaning of life, the 7-point 10-items scale by Steger, Frazier, Oishi & Kaler and translated by Won, Kim & Kwon. For somatization, the 5-point 12 items scale designed by Derogatis and translated by Kim, Kim & Won was used. Collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson Correlation and regression using the SPSS 21.0 program.
RESULTS
Average scores were 3.55 for death anxiety, 3.43 for meaning of life, and 2.74 for somatization. Death anxiety had the highest positive correlation with somatization. Meaning of life was negatively correlated with death anxiety and somatization. Death anxiety and health status were shown to influence somatization but meaning of life was not shown to influence somatization.
CONCLUSION
The research results indicate that death anxiety and health status influence somatization in grandparents raising grandchildren. These results also provide basic information on the importance of nursing interventions in which the variables influencing somatization in grandparents raising grandchildren are considered.

Keyword

Death; Anxiety; Life; Meaning; Somatization

MeSH Terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
*Anxiety
Attitude to Death
Family
Female
Grandparents/*psychology
Health Status
Humans
Income
Male
Middle Aged
*Quality of Life
Surveys and Questionnaires

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