The Relation of Adaptation Difficulty to Death Anxiety and Depression Among Individuals Living in a Nursing Home

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to investigate the relation ofadaptation difficulty to death anxiety and depression among individualsliving in a nursing home. Material and Methods: The study wasconducted with 62 individuals living in a nursing home. Data were collectedusing the Personal Information Form, the Assessment Scale ofAdaptation Difficulty for the Elderly (There were four sub dimensionsof interest: role and self-actualisation, interdependence, physiologicalstatus, and self-concept), the Death Anxiety Scale, and the Death DepressionScale. Results: The mean Assessment Scale of Adaptation Difficultyfor the Elderly, the Death Anxiety Scale and the DeathDepression Scale scores were 0.83±0.41, 8.61±2.97 and 9.45±4.25, respectively.There was a weak negative correlation between physiologicalstates and the self-concept scores of the Death Anxiety Scale andthe Assessment Scale of Adaptation Difficulty for the Elderly subscales.There were statistically significant differences between the Death AnxietyScale total scores by gender and educational status, between theDeath Anxiety Scale total scores by age, and between the AssessmentScale of Adaptation Difficulty for the Elderly total scores based on gender,educational status, perception of health condition, and ability toperform daily activities (p<0.05). Conclusion: Adaptation in terms ofrole and self-actualisation were generally negative, while death anxietyand depression were moderate. Death anxiety was most associated withphysiological states and self-concepts. Specifically, death anxiety wastherefore higher in males and people educated up to high-school andabove levels, whereas death depression was higher in those aged from58 to 70 years.