The Relationship between believing in resurrection and attitudes toward death among elderly people

Abstract

Background: Since believing in resurrection and life after death exists in all religions, strengthening this belief leads to positive emotional states, increases adaptation to adverse life events, reduces the fear of death and gives a meaning to life. This study was conducted in 2017 to investigate the relationship between believing in resurrection and attitude towards death among the elderly population of Golestan province. Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 230 elderly people over 60 years old in Golestan province, Iran. The data collection tool was the standard questionnaire of resurrection belief and attitude towards death. Data were collected by self-reporting method, and then were analyzed by descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Spearman and Kruskal-Wallis correlation coefficient). Results: The score of believing in resurrection was 70.62 + 8.41 and the score of attitude towards death was 128.08 + 16.58 among the samples. Pearson correlation test did not show a significant relationship between believing in resurrection and attitude towards death (r = 0.01, p = 0.9). Conclusion: The results of this study showed no significant relationship between believing in resurrection and attitude towards death among the elderly people. However, since almost everyone believes in resurrection and afterlife, spiritual tendencies become more pronounced in old age. By understanding and strengthening the spiritual needs of elderlies, health care providers can promote mental health, gives a meaning to life and reduce the fear of death in the elderly population. Key words: Believing in resurrection, Attitude towards death, Elderly