Exploring Death Anxiety Among Older Adults: An Integrative Review of Associated Factors and Interventions

Abstract

With the aging of the population and the substantial surge of individuals above the age of 60, psychological concerns particular to this population have come to hold more weight on the healthcare and social levels. One of the concerns of older adults, which can significantly influence their psychological well-being, is the fear of inevitable mortality or death anxiety. This integrative review tackles the subject of death anxiety among older adults by providing a comprehensive synthesis of the factors associated with death anxiety and the effective interventions to mitigate it. A systematic screening of relevant articles was conducted using the PRISMA guidelines. Content and thematic analysis of 46 selected articles were performed, from which five key themes emerged: demographic factors, psychological and psychosocial factors, spiritual and religious factors, death reminders, and effective interventions. The review contributes to the field of thanatology and offers clinical insights into the care of older adults.