Death Anxiety and Depression among Nurses: The Mediating Role of Empathy

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected life all over the world. Death anxiety has a significant impact on the mental health of individuals, especially in the health care professionals. The fear and apprehension surrounding mortality has significantly affected nurses, leading to various mental health challenges, including depression. While the awareness of death can impose substantial psychological strain, it can also foster positive traits essential for patient care, such as empathy. Objective: The study identifies the relationship between death anxiety, depression and empathy. It also explores the mediating role of empathy in the relationship between death anxiety and depression among nurses. Method: A cross-sectional research design and a purposive sampling strategy were used to collect data from nurses (N=200) working at different government and private hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants' ages ranged from 23 to 52. The Siddiqui-Shah Depression Scale, Urdu-translated versions of the Death Anxiety Scale, and Jefferson Scale of Empathy were administered to nurses. Results: The results reveal a positive relation between death anxiety with depression (r= .43**) and empathy (r = .31**). Death anxiety and empathy were found to be significant predictors of depression. Furthermore, empathy was found to be a significant mediator between death anxiety and depression. Conclusion: Based on the findings, clinical psychologists may devise various interventions/management plans to manage death anxiety and depression among nurses.