J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs.  2017 Dec;28(4):440-449. 10.12799/jkachn.2017.28.4.440.

The Death Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms among Poor Older Women in Rural Areas: The Moderating Effect of Social Support

• Lim SJ
• Ko Y
• Kim C
• Lee HS

• KMID: 2401758
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2017.28.4.440

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to identify the moderate effect of social support on the relationship between death anxiety and depressive symptoms among poor older women in rural areas.
METHODS
This was a secondary analysis of the data from 209 women who were participated in the intervention study to evaluate the effectiveness of depression prevention program. Data were collected between April and September 2012. The data were analyzed using moderate multiple regressions.
RESULTS
Among these poor older women, depressive symptoms were associated with death anxiety and social support. Self-esteem support had a moderating effect on the relationship between death anxiety and depressive symptoms.
CONCLUSION
The results indicate that the self-esteem support was effective in decreasing depressive symptoms and death anxiety in poor older women. In order to reduce their depression and make positive changes in their lives, self-esteem improvement programs are needed.

Keyword

Elderly; Anxiety; Depression; Social support; Self esteem; Death

MeSH Terms

Aged
Anxiety*
Depression*
Female
Humans
Self Concept

Reference

References

1. Park SA, Hur JS. Determinants of the death anxiety among the elderly. Mental Health and Social Work. 2012; 40(1):59–88.

2. Oh SG, Cho J, Kim YH, Choi JM. Influence of depression on psychological death anxiety of the elderly: Moderate effect of self-esteem. The Journal of the Korea Contents Association. 2012; 12(2):243–254. https://doi.org/10.5392/JKCA.2012.12.02.243.

3. Templer DI. The construction and validation of a death anxiety scale. The Journal of General Psychology. 1970; 82(2):165–177. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221309.1970.9920634.

4. Lee HJ, Jo KH. A pathmodel for death anxiety to suicidal ideation of the elderly. Journal of the Korean Gerontology Society. 2006; 26(4):717–731.

5. Neimeyer RA, Wittkowski J, Moster RP. Psychological research on death attitudes: An overview and evaluation. Death Studies. 2004; 28:309–340. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481180490432324.

6. Kwon OG. A survey on the determinants of death anxiety in nursing-home residents. Journal of Welfare for the Aged. 2008; 41:27–50.

7. Aday RH, Shahan DR. Elderly reactions to death education program in a nursing home setting. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education. 1995; 15(3):3–18. https://doi.org/10.1300/J021v15n03_02.

8. Park KE, Kwon MH, Kwon YE. Correlation among depression, death anxiety, and quality of life aged women. Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing. 2013; 27(3):527–538. https://doi.org/10.5932/JKPHN.2013.27.3.527.

9. Jang DH, Lee SM. The effect of family factors on death anxiety of the aged. Journal of Welfare for the Aged. 2007; 37:89–110.

10. Jang IS, Kim SM. The relationship between social network and death anxiety in elders. Journal of Korean Gerontological Nursing. 2002; 4(1):80–92.

11. Ko JH, Choi JO, Lee HP. The reliability and factor structure of K-templer death anxiety scale. The Korean Journal of Health Psychology. 2006; 11(2):315–328.

12. Dickinson WJ, Potter GG, Hybels CF, McQuoid DR, Steffens DC. Change in stress and social support as predictors of cognitive decline in older adults with and without depression. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2011; 26(12):1267–1274. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.2676.

13. Kim JM, Stewart R, Shin IS, Yoon JS, Lee HY. Lifetime urban/ rural residence, social support and late-life depression in Korea. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2004; 19(9):843–851. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.1175.

14. Oh SE, Ko Y. Activities of daily living, depression, and self-rated health and related factors in Korean elderly: Focused on socioeconomic status and family support. Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing. 2015; 26(2):140–149. https://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2015.26.2.140.

15. Lee HJ, Kahng SK, Lee JY. The effects of socioeconomic position and health behavior on geriatric depressive symptom. Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society. 2008; 28(4):1129–1145.

16. Lee JY, Yun SN. A comparative study on health promotion behaviors and affecting factors of aged women in urban and rural area. Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing. 2005; 16(1):13–22.

17. Ali TM, Behrooz A. Investigation of validity and reliability of Templer death anxiety scale. Thought & Behavior in Clinical Psychology. 2011; 6(21):72–80.

18. Sheikh JI, Yesavage JA. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Recent evidence and development of a short version. Clinical Gerontologist. 1986; 5(1-2):165–173. https://doi.org/10.1300/J018v05n01_09.

19. Kee BS. A preliminary study for the standardization of Geriatric Depression Scale short form-Korea version. Journal of the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association. 1996; 35(2):298–307.

20. Song MS. Construction of a functional status prediction model for the elderly [dissertation]. [Seoul]: Seoul National Universi- ty;1991. p. 141.

21. Lim SJ, Lee HS, Kim CM, Ko Y. The effects of a positive psychology improvement program on elders' depression and death anxiety. Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing. 2015; 26(3):238–247. https://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2015.26.3.238.

22. Jeon YG. A study of factors influencing the death anxiety in the old age [master's thesis]. [Daejeon]: Mokwon University;2000. p. 80.

23. Templer DI. Death anxiety as related to depression and health of retired persons. Journal of Gerontology. 1971; 26(4):521–523.

24. Oh MN, Choi WS. A study on self-esteem, death anxiety and depression of the elderly in home and facilities. Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association. 2005; 43(3):105–118.

25. Yu J, Li J, Cuijpers P, Wu S, Wu Z. Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms in Chinese older adults: A population-based study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2012; 27(3):305–312. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.2721.

26. Chang KE. A study on the ecological factors affecting the death anxiety among the elderly. Journal of Welfare for the Aged. 2010; 49:267–286.

27. Wu AM, Tang CS, Kwok TC. Death anxiety among Chinese elderly people in Hong Kong. Journal of Aging and Health. 2002; 14(1):42–56. https://doi.org/10.1177/089826430201400103.

28. Lehto RH, Stein KF. Death anxiety: An analysis of an evolving concept. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice: An International Journal. 2009; 23(1):23–41.

29. Campbell A. The sense of well-being in America: Recent patterns and trends. New York: McGrawHill;1981. p. 263.

30. Thorson JA, Powell FC. Elements of death anxiety and meanings of death. Journal of Clinical Psychology. 1988; 44(5):691–701. https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-4679(198809)44:5<691::AID-JCLP2270440505>3.0.CO;2-D.