Death Literacy, Anxiety, and Uncertainty in Elderly’s Family Caregivers

A Cross-Sectional Study

Bibliographic Data

ID13629587
AuthorsZümrüt Akgün Şahin (0000-0001-7141-273X, Health Science Faculty, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey, corresponding author), Şafak Aydın (0000-0001-8871-7652, Kafkas University), Şafak Aydin (Vocational School of Health Services, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey), Volkan Kına (Vocational School of Health Services, Ardahan University, Posof, Turkey)
Year2025
Pages302228251346910-302228251346910
Publication date2025-05-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueOMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0030-2228 • E-ISSN: 1541-3764
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00302228251346910
PMID40435405
OpenAlexW4410800354
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited39

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

Anxiety · Cause of death · Cross-sectional study · Death anxiety · Disease · Fear of death · Health care · Health literacy · Literacy · Psychiatry · Spouse · Clinical Psychology · Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues · Psychology · Gerontology