The Association Between Depression and Death Anxiety Among Older Adults: Moderating Effect of Ego-Integrity

Abstract

This study verifies the relationship between depression and death anxiety in older adults and the moderating effect of ego-integrity on this relationship. The survey was conducted with 236 participants aged 65 years and older through a combination of online and offline surveys. The final data were analyzed using the PROCESS macro for SPSS 2.16. The main findings of this study are as follows: First, depression in old age was positively related to anxiety about death. Second, the moderating effect of ego-integrity was observed on the relationship between depression and death anxiety. Third, on examining the moderating effect of each sub-variable of ego-integrity, the moderating effect of satisfaction with one’s life was observed to be significant. Conversely, the moderating effect of attitude toward life and acceptance of old age was not significant. The results of this study are meaningful in examining the moderating effect of ego-integrity on the relationship between depression and death anxiety. Furthermore, the results of this study can provide basic data for the development and application of psychological intervention programs for older adults experiencing psychological problems due to depression and death anxiety in old age.