Death Anxiety as a Function of Aging Anxiety

Abstract

To assess how different facets of aging anxiety contributed to the prediction of tangible and existential death anxiety, 167 Americans of various Christian denominations completed a battery of questionnaires. Multiple regression analyses, controlling for demographic variables and previously demonstrated predictors of death anxiety, revealed that the aging anxiety dimensions of physical appearance concern and fear of losses each positively predicted tangible death anxiety. In addition, the aging anxiety dimension of fear of losses predicted existential death anxiety. Results are discussed with respect to the multifaceted nature of death anxiety and how different forms of aging anxiety contribute to anxieties about death.

The interaction between aging and death anxieties predicts ageism

“…In line with the aforementioned connection between both aging and death anxieties, the former was found to be partially correlated with the latter (Benton et al, 2007), as well as with ageism, as previous studies demonstrated that higher levels of aging anxiety contribute to greater ageist attitudes (Allan & Johnson, 2009;Allan, Johnson, & Emerson, 2014;Boswell, 2012;Harris & Dollinger, 2001). Therefore, aging anxiety is only partially correlated with death anxiety, as it may remind people that life is coming to an end, but unlike death anxiety, it is not directly associated with the absolute and irreversible meaning that life has come to an end (Lasher & Faulkender, 1993;Yan et al, 2011), and unlike death anxiety, it is not associated with the fear from the unknown afterlife.…”

“…The mitigation of the relationship between one anxiety and ageism by the other anxiety may result from the theoretical link between aging and death anxiety. Aging anxiety was found to be directly related to the term tangible death anxiety, which mostly refers to changes in the body when one is dying and to the deterioration process associated with aging (Benton et al, 2007), whereas death anxiety is also related to the end of one's existence and the unknown afterlife (Cicirelli, 2006). Therefore, when both anxieties are dominant, the individual cannot handle their effect by reacting with ageist attitudes.…”

“…Primarily, such attitudes may be measured as stereotypes and prejudice against older adults due to their advanced age, a phenomenon which is defined as ageism (Butler, 2009). However, on an intra-personal level, these attitudes may be manifested through the individual's own anxieties about growing old, which may be triggered by the aging process (Yan, Silverstein, & Wilber, 2011), or perhaps by anxieties regarding the ultimate result of the aging process, namely, death anxiety (Benton, Christopher, & Walter, 2007). While ageism is concerned with the perception of older adults as a group, the innate qualities of both aging and death anxieties are closely associated each with the other (Benton et al, 2007).…”

“…However, on an intra-personal level, these attitudes may be manifested through the individual's own anxieties about growing old, which may be triggered by the aging process (Yan, Silverstein, & Wilber, 2011), or perhaps by anxieties regarding the ultimate result of the aging process, namely, death anxiety (Benton, Christopher, & Walter, 2007). While ageism is concerned with the perception of older adults as a group, the innate qualities of both aging and death anxieties are closely associated each with the other (Benton et al, 2007). However, the two are also differentiated, as aging anxiety concerns fears regarding the continual process of aging, rather than with the termination of this process.…”

“We don't want to talk about that”: Overcoming barriers to rural aging research and interventions on sensitive topics

“…Geographic disparities are accentuated by low levels of health insurance coverage and reimbursement rates in rural areas which tend to further discourage community engagement (Heady and Byrd, 2002). Dealing specifically with aging populations, sensitivity about an issue and reluctance to explore its manifestations can be reinforced by ageism (McGuire et al, 2008), by the adverse consequences of age-related physical and mental changes (Price et al, 2008;Rowe and Kahn, 1998), and a culturally based fear of loss and death (Benton et al, 2007). For instance, clinical misperceptions that "feeling blue" is a normal part of aging and not symptomatic of illness among older adults, may prevent older adults from engaging in conversation about mental health treatment with their clinician and dissuade them from considering participation in research on the topic.…”