The association between Time Perspective and Death Anxiety in Elderly: a systematic review of quantitative studies

Abstract

This systematic review aims to investigate the literature on the relationship between time perspective and death anxiety in the elderly population. Time perspective is a fundamental process by which the flow of personal experiences is categorized into temporal dimensions, while death anxiety refers to the fear associated with the inevitability of death. The review systematically assesses and critically discusses the literature on time perspective and death anxiety and highlights the implications for future research and practice. A comprehensive search of relevant databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct) was conducted to identify quantitative studies published up to date in this review. The initial search yielded a considerable number of studies (N=401). After applying rigorous inclusion criteria, a final selection of studies (N=5) was examined in detail. Results of our systematic review show that time perspective is related to death anxiety in some circumstances, but extensive research is needed to explore this relationship. Future research efforts should focus on refining assessment methodologies from time perspective and investigating potential interventions that can alleviate death anxiety among the elderly population. Understanding the interplay between time perspective and death anxiety may hold valuable implications for mental health interventions and geriatric care, promoting enhanced well-being and psychological resilience in later life.

Keywords

• time perspective, death-anxiety, elderly, old age.