The Prediction of Death Anxiety in The Elderly Based on Personality Types and Mental Health

Given the increase in elderly population, it seems inevitable to investigate and comprehend related to elderly complications. Therefore, the present study aimed to predict death anxiety based on personality types and mental profile in elderly in Shiraz. It was a descriptive-correlational study. For this purpose, 150 elderly people living in Shiraz nursing homes were selected non-randomly through their ability in 2019. To investigate the variables of the study, three tests of Templar death anxiety, Goldberg mental health (GHQ) and McCrae and Costa 5-factor personality (NEO) were used. Data were analyzed using correlation and regression methods. Findings showed that personality types and psychological profile accounted for about 45% and 25% of the variance of death anxiety scores, respectively. Also, neuroticism could predict death anxiety in elderly meaningfully and positively, while such prediction was meaningful and negative with extraversion and accountability. Significantly, they are able to predict death anxiety in the elderly. According to the results of this study and considering the important role of personality and mental health to death anxiety, it can be concluded that informing elderly and making use of strategies to improve their mental health could decrease death anxiety among them.