Death awareness and psychological resilience in adults aged 50 plus

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between death awareness and psychological resilience in adults aged 50 and above, focusing on the roles of religious activity, recent death experiences, and educational background. A total of 52 participants completed surveys measuring death awareness (TBS-5) and resilience (RS-10). Results indicated that religiously active individuals reported significantly lower death anxiety and higher resilience compared to non-religious participants. Additionally, individuals who had experienced the death of a loved one in the past 12 months showed a tendency toward greater openness in discussing death. No significant effects were found for educational background. While the small sample size limits the generalizability of the findings, the study highlights the importance of religious and experiential factors in shaping attitudes toward mortality and offers practical implications for end-of-life care and counseling. The results also suggest that fostering open dialogue about death and enhancing spiritual support may increase psychological resilience among older adults.