Huzurevinde Yaşayan Bireyler Arasında Uyum Güçlüğü ile Ölüm Kaygısı ve Depresyon Arasındaki İlişki

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to investigate the relation of adaptation difficulty to death anxiety and depression among individuals living in a nursing home. Material and Methods: The study was conducted with 62 individuals living in a nursing home. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Assessment Scale of Adaptation Difficulty for the Elderly (There were four sub dimensions of interest: role and self-actualisation, interdependence, physiological status, and self-concept), the Death Anxiety Scale, and the Death Depression Scale. Results: The mean Assessment Scale of Adaptation Difficulty for the Elderly, the Death Anxiety Scale and the Death Depression Scale scores were 0.83±0.41, 8.61±2.97 and 9.45±4.25, respectively. There was a weak negative correlation between physiological states and the self-concept scores of the Death Anxiety Scale and the Assessment Scale of Adaptation Difficulty for the Elderly subscales. There were statistically significant differences between the Death Anxiety Scale total scores by gender and educational status, between the Death Anxiety Scale total scores by age, and between the Assessment Scale of Adaptation Difficulty for the Elderly total scores based on gender, educational status, perception of health condition, and ability to perform daily activities (p<0.05). Conclusion: Adaptation in terms of role and self-actualisation were generally negative, while death anxiety and depression were moderate. Death anxiety was most associated with physiological states and self-concepts. Specifically, death anxiety was therefore higher in males and people educated up to high-school and above levels, whereas death depression was higher in those aged from 58 to 70 years.