Nonattachment, sense of coherence and death anxiety among senior citizens: from the view of Buddhist-based psychology

Abstract

ABSTRACT Research has shown links between nonattachment, sense of coherence, and death anxiety, but their interrelationship remains unexplored. From the view of Buddhist-based psychology, we proposed an indirect-only mediation model, hypothesizing that nonattachment reduces death anxiety only by enhancing the sense of coherence. A study of 91 Chinese seniors using purposive and snowball sampling supported this hypothesis. Participants completed scales measuring nonattachment, sense of coherence, and death anxiety. Results indicated no direct effect of nonattachment on death anxiety but confirmed an indirect effect through the sense of coherence. These results align with the Humanistic Buddhist’s view of virtue, meditation, and wisdom, suggesting that nonattachment fosters wisdom to understand, manage, and find meaning in life’s challenges, thereby reducing death anxiety. The study highlights the complex relationship between these factors and their potential implications for managing end-of-life concerns.