Death Literacy,Anxiety,and Uncertainty in Elderly’s Family Caregivers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the levels of death literacy, death anxiety, and intolerance of uncertainty among family caregivers of elderly individuals and identify the factors influencing these variables. This research was conducted as a cross-sectional study. Statistically significant differences in the mean scores of death literacy and death anxiety were found among caregivers who were the patient’s spouse, provided care ≥5 days per week, perceived their health as poor during caregiving, had not received education regarding death, and had not engaged in discussions about death with the patient. A statistically significant negative relationship was identified between death literacy and both intolerance of uncertainty and death anxiety among caregivers. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the caregiver’s relationship to the patient, the frequency of caregiving, self-perceived health status during caregiving, receiving education about death, and having discussions about death with the patient were significant factors affecting death literacy.