The Mediating Role of Death Anxiety on The Relationship Between Successful Aging and Life Satisfaction

Öz

This study aimed to test the mediating role of death anxiety on the relationship between Turkish older adults’ levels of successful aging and life satisfaction. The study group consisted of 243 individuals (130 females, 113 males) aged 60 years and older. The Successful Aging Scale, Adult Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Death Anxiety Scale were used for data collection. The Pearson product-moment correlation technique and the standard multiple regression technique were used to analyze the data. Preliminary analysis showed the existence of significant relationships among the variables discussed in the study. The regression analysis results indicated that a significant relationship exists among elderly individuals’ levels of life satisfaction and death anxiety, with these variables significantly predicting their level of successful aging. Another important finding from this study was that the variables of death anxiety and life satisfaction together explain 36% of the total variance in successful aging. It was concluded that death anxiety was a mediating variable in the relationship between successful aging and life satisfaction. In this context, in order to obtain more detailed information, it is recommended to increase the studies in quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods within the framework of the concepts of death anxiety, successful aging and life satisfaction.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Death anxiety
• successful aging
• life satisfaction
• elder

Başarılı Yaşlanma ve Yaşam Doyumu Arasındaki İlişkide Ölüm Kaygısının Aracı Rolü

Öz

Bu araştırmada, yaşlıların başarılı yaşlanma ve yaşam doyumu düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkide ölüm kaygısının aracı rolünün test edilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu, 60 yaş ve üzeri 243 (130 kadın, 113 erkek) yaşlı birey oluşturmuştur. Araştırmanın veri toplama aşamasında Başarılı Yaşlanma Ölçeği, Yetişkin Yaşam Doyumu Ölçeği ve Ölüm Kaygısı Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde Pearson Momentler Çarpım Korelasyon Tekniği ve Standart Çoklu Regresyon Tekniği’nden yararlanılmıştır. Yapılan ön analizler, araştırmada ele alınan değişkenler arasında manidar ilişkiler olduğunu göstermektedir. Regresyon analizi sonuçları ise yaşlıların başarılı yaşlanma düzeylerinin yaşam doyumu ve ölüm kaygısı değişkenleri tarafından manidar bir şekilde yordanması ile birlikte yaşam doyumu ile ölüm kaygısı arasında manidar bir ilişkinin olduğuna işaret etmektedir. Bu noktada araştırmanın önemli bir diğer bulgusu ölüm kaygısı ve yaşam doyumu değişkenlerinin birlikte başarılı yaşlanma toplam varyansının %36’sını açıkladığı yönündedir. Ölüm kaygısının başarılı yaşlanma ile yaşam doyumu arasındaki ilişkide aracı değişken olduğu sonucuna varılmıştır. Bu kapsamda daha detaylı bilgiler edinebilmek adına ölüm kaygısı, başarılı yaşlanma ve yaşam doyumu kavramları çerçevesinde nicel, nitel ve karma yöntemdeki araştırmaların artırılması önerilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Ölüm kaygısı
• başarılı yaşlanma
• yaşam doyumu
• yaşlı

Kaynakça

1. Akça, F., & Köse, I. A. (2008). Adaptation of Death Anxiety Scale (DAS): Validity and reliability studies. Turkish Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 11(1), 7-16. Retrieved from https://www.klinikpsikiyatri.org/jvi.aspx?pdir=kpd&plng=tur&un=KPD-06078
2. Angelini, V., Cavapozzi, D., Corazzini, L., & Paccagnella, O. (2012). Age, health and life satisfaction among older europeans. Social Indicators Research, 105(2), 293-308. Doi:10.1007/s11205-011-9882-x
3. Bowling, A., & Dieppe, P. (2005). What is successful ageing and who should define it? British Medical Journal, 331(7531), 1548-51. doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7531.1548
4. Camus, A. (2003). L’Etranger. In V. Günyol (Ed.), Preface (pp. 8). Istanbul, Turkey: Can Publishing.
5. Chan, S. H. W., Pan, Y., Xu, Y., & Yeung, K. C. (2019). Life satisfaction and self-perception of aging in contributing to successful aging in a Chinese context. Innovation in Aging, 3(51), 147-148. Doi:10.1093 / geroni / igz038.531
6. Cicero, M. T. (2017). Cato Maior de Senectute (C. C. Çevik, Trans.). Istanbul, Turkey: Turkey İş Bank Cultural. (Original work published B.C. 44).
7. Çelik, İ. (2009). Death in Turkish sufism thought. Atatürk University Journal of Turkish Research Institute, 16(40), 119-46. doi:10.14222/Turkiyat1236
8. Çelik, S. S., Çelik, Y., Hikmet, N., & Khan, M. M. (2017). Factors affecting life satisfaction of older adults in Turkey. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 87(4), 393-414. Doi:10.1177/0091415017740677

9. Demir-Çelebi, Ç. (2020). Successful aging and an experiment for Turkish sample. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Marmara). Marmara University Library and Documentation Department. https://katalog.marmara.edu.tr/veriler/yordambt/cokluortam/C1377760-C8E6-3D43-BE92-DCC008D4B910/5e1c1099c5c15.pdf
10. Depp, C. A., & Jeste, D. V. (2006). Definitions and predictors of successful aging: A comprehensive review of larger quantitative studies. The American Journal of Geriatr Psychiatry, 14, 6-20. Doi:10.1097/01.JGP.0000192501.03069.bc
11. Diamond, H. (2014). What is successful aging? A field study showcasing an elder perspective. (Master’s thesis, University of Brandeis). Brandeis Instutional Repository. https://bir.brandeis.edu/handle/10192/27071?show=full
12. Dorji, L., Jullamate, P., Subgranon, R., & Rosenberg, E. (2019). Predicting factors of successful aging among community dwelling older adults in Thimphu, Bhutan. The Bangkok Medical Journal, 15(1), 38-43. Doi:10.31524/bkkmedj.2019.02.007
13. Erikson, E. H. (2014). Life Cycle Completed (G. Akkaya, Trans.). Istanbul, Turkey: Okuyan Us. (Original work published 1982).
14. Estebsari, F., Dastoorpoor, M., Khalifehkandi, Z. R., Nouri, A., Mostafaei, D., Hosseini, M., Esmaeili, R., & Aghababaeian, H. (2020). The concept of successful aging: A review article. Current Aging Science, 12, 4-10. Doi:10.2174 / 1874609812666191023130117
15. Fisher, B. J. (1992). Successful aging and life satisfaction: A pilot study for conceptual clarification. Journal of Aging Studies, 6(2), 191-202. Doi:10.1016/0890-4065(92)90012-U
16. Fisher, B. J. (1995). Successful aging, life satisfaction, and generativity in later life. The Internal Journal of Aging and Human Development, 41(3), 239-50. doi:10.2190/HA9X-H48D-9GYB-85XW
17. Fortner, B. V., & Neimeyer, R. A. (1999). Death anxiety in older adults: A quantitative review. Death Studies, 23(5), 387-411. Doi:10.1080/074811899200920
18. Given, J. E., & Range, L. M. (1990). Life satisfaction and death anxiety in elderly nursing home and public housing residents. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 9(2), 224-29. doi:10.1177/073346489000900208
19. Havighurst, R. J. (1961). Successful aging. The Gerontologist, 1(1), 8-13. Doi:10.1093/geront/1.1.8
20. Hickson, J., Housley, W. F., & Boyle, C. (1988). The relationship of locus of control, age and sex to life satisfaction and death anxiety in older persons. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 26(3), 191-9. doi:10.2190/E5CK-THBM-QVQG-C3DN
21. Hilgaard-Bülow, M., & Söderqvist, T. (2014). Successful ageing: A historical overview and critical analysis of a successful concept. Journal of Aging Studies, 31, 139-49. Doi:10.1016/j.jaging.2014.08.009
22. Hinz, A., Conrad, I., Schroeter, M. L., Glaesmer, H., Brahler, E., Zenger, M., Kocalevent, R. D., & Herzberg, P. Y. (2018). Psychometric properties of The Satisfaction With Life Scale derived from a large German community sample. Quality of Life Research, 27(6), 1661-1670. Doi:10.1007/s11136-018-1844-1
23. Holmes, J. (2006). Successful ageing: A critical analysis. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Massey). Massey Research Online. https://mro.massey.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10179/3884/02_whole.pdf
24. Hsu, H. C. (2010). Trajectory of life satisfaction and its relationship with subjective economic status and successful aging. Social Indicators Research, 99, 455-68. Doi:10.1007/s11205-010-9593-8
25. Hye-Kyung, K., & Ji-Hye, K. (2020). The effect of preparation for old age on the lifade satisfaction of the Korean elderly: Focusing on the interaction effect of social support and death anxiety. The Journal of the Korea Contents Association, 20(10), 449-457. doi:10.5392/JKCA.2020.20.10.449
26. Iwatsubo, Y., Derriennic, F., Cassou, B., & Poitrenaud, J. (1996). Predictors of life satisfaction amongst retired people in Paris. International Journal of Epidemiology, 25(1), 160-70. Doi:10.1093/ije/25.1.160
27. Jose, S., George, N., & Dante, G. (2018). Life satisfaction as a predictor of death anxiety among the elderly people. Indian Journal of Health and Well-Being, 9(6), 829-32. Retrieved from http://www.i-scholar.in/index.php/ijhw/article/view/181091
28. Kaba, E., Erol, M., & Güç, K. (2017). Development of Adults Life Satisfaction Scale. Anadolu University Journal of Social Sciences, 18(1), 1-14. Doi:10.18037/ausbd.550232
29. Kanning, M., & Schlicht, W. (2008). A bio-psycho-social model of successful aging as shown through the variable of physical activity. European Review of Aging and Physical Activity, 5(2), 79–87. Doi:10.1007/s11556-008-0035-4
30. Kars-Fertelli, T., & Deliktaş, T. (2019). A study on the relationship between perceptions of successful aging and life satisfaction of Turkish elderly people. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 56(2), 386-392. Doi:10.1111/ppc.12446
31. Kımter, N., & Köftegül, Ö. (2017). A research on the relationship between death anxiety and religiosity in adults. Journal of Sakarya University Faculty of Theology, 19(36), 55-82. Doi:10.17335/sakaifd.327235
32. Mroczek, D. K., & Spiro, A. (2005). Change in life satisfaction during adulthood: Findings from the veterans affairs normative aging study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 88(1), 189-202. Doi:10.1037/0022-3514.88.1.189
33. Öz, F. (2002). The last stage of life: Elderly the review of psychosocial dimension. Journal of Kriz, 10(2), 17-28. Doi:10.1501/Kriz_0000000185
34. Özen, D. (2008). The effect of death anxiety on activities of daily living in older adults living in rest home. (Master’s thesis, University of Haliç). Turkey Council of Higher Education Thesis Center. https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezDetay.jsp?id=hbg-r2QLgVtu_G5TpYRGqg&no=5gu32DRG1h6ozyxM0xtc9w
35. Özsungur, F. (2019). Women’s successful aging. Health Care for Women International, 41(9), 997-1017. Doi:10.1080/07399332.2019.1667994
36. Öztürk, Z., Karakuş, G., & Tamam, L. (2011). Death anxiety in elderly cases. Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry, 12(1), 37-43. Retrieved from https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Death-anxiety-in-elderly-cases-%C3%96zt%C3%BCrk-Karaku%C5%9F/dc137de39a3da7d935b233927ccc7653c8f1c9d6
37. Roushani, K. (2012). Relationship between religious beliefs and life satisfaction with death anxiety in the elderly. Annals of Biological Research, 3(9), 4400-4405. Retrieved from https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Relationship-between-religious-beliefs-and-life-in-Roshani/512b62b7d586cf72a0c6d6daee7780f22eabdda9
38. Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1997). Successful aging. The Gerontologist, 37(4), 433-40. Doi:10.1093/geront/37.4.433
39. Saeed, F., & Bokharey, I. Z. (2016). Gender differences, life satisfaction, its correlate and death anxiety in retirement. Journal of Psychology and Clinical Psychiatry, 5(2), 00280. Doi:10.15406/JPCPY.2016.05.00280
40. Siahpush, M., Spittal, M., & Singh, G. K. (2008). Happiness and life satisfaction prospectively predict self-rated health, physical health, and the presence of limiting, long-term health conditions. American Journal of Health Promotion, 23(1), 18–26. Doi:10.4278/ajhp.061023137
41. Strawbridge, W. J., Wallhagen, M. I., & Cohen, R. D. (2002). Successful aging and well-being: Self-rated compared with Rowe and Kahn. The Gerontologist, 42(6), 727-33. Doi:10.1093/geront/42.6.727
42. Şanlı, S. (2012). A study for determining the educational needs of older adults for a successful aging. (Master’s thesis, University of Hacettepe). Turkey Council of Higher Education Thesis Center. https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezDetay.jsp?id=bS088a54IFTeKHcHyftWCQ&no=Gf3pTN-eOJE-_06dnUAv4g
43. Taghiabadi, M., Kavosi, A., Mirhafez, S. R., Keshvari, M., & Mehrabi, T. (2017). The association between death anxiety with spiritual experiences and life satisfaction in elderly people. Electronic Physcian, 9(3), 3980-3985. Doi:10.19082/3980
44. Tanhan, F. (2013). The effects of death education on death anxieties and psychological well-beings. Van Yuzuncu Yil University Journal of Education, 10(1), 184-200. Retrieved from https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/yyuefd/issue/13705/165936
45. Tel, H., Koç, M., & Tel-Aydın, H. (2020). Determination of loneliness, life satisfaction and death anxiety in elderly living at home. IBAD Journal of Social Sciences, 1(10), 1-10. Doi:10.21733/ibad.760027
46. Templer, D. I. (1970). The construction and validation of Death Anxiety Scale. Journal of General Psychology, 82, 165-77. doi:10.1080/00221309.1970.9920634
47. Tomer, A. (1992). Death anxiety in adult life-theoretical perspective. Death Studies, 16(6), 475-506. Doi:10.1080/07481189208252594
48. Warshney, S. (2007). Predictors of successful aging: Associations between social network patterns, life satisfaction, depression, subjective health and leisure time activity for older adults in India. (Doctoral dissertation, University of North Texas). UNT Digital Library. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3910/m1/55/
49. Yalom, I. D. (2008). Staring at the Sun: Overcoming the terror of death (1st ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass.
50. Zahedi-Bidgol, Z., Tagharrobi, Z., Sooki, Z., & Sharifi, K. (2020). Death anxiety and its predictors among older adults. Journal of Holistic Nursing and Midwifery, 30(2), 101-110. Doi:10.32598/jhnm.30.2.101