Death anxiety and its predictors among the companions of hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019

Death anxiety (DA) is associated with stress and impaired immunity and thereby, puts individuals at risk for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of this study was to assess DA and its predictors among the companions of hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2020 on 200 companions of patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in Imam Khomeini, BouAli, and Razi hospitals in Sari and Qaemshahr, Iran. Sampling was performed conveniently. Data were collected using a demographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire for patients, a demographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire for companions, and Templer DA Scale. The SPSS software (v. 21.0) was used for data analysis via the independent sample t test, chi-square test, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis.

The mean score of DA was 47.21±10.62 (in the possible range of 15–75). Participants’ DA had significant relationship with their gender, their patients’ anorexia and arterial oxygen saturation, and COVID-19 among other family members (P<0.05). Participants’ gender, patients’ anorexia and arterial oxygen saturation, and COVID-19 among other family members significantly explained 0.066% of the total variance of DA (P=0.002). The strongest predictors of DA were arterial oxygen saturation (β=0.17; P=0.01) and gender (β=0.15; P=0.0).

The companions of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 experience high levels of DA and hence, interventions are needed to reduce their DA.