The Role of Psychological Flexibility and Emotional Processing Styles in Predicting Death Anxiety in the Elderly

Abstract

Considering the growing number of elderly and the importance of death anxiety among them make it essential to investigate various variables influencing that. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the role of psychological flexibility and emotional processing styles to predict death anxiety in the elderly. It was a correlational descriptive study. Samples included all elderly living in Dargaz in 2018 from whom 150 were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Bond Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (second edition), Baker's Emotional Processing questionnaire, and Templar Death Anxiety survey. Data were analyzed using SPSS Software version 24, Pearson correlation coefficient and simultaneous regression analysis. The results showed a significant negative correlation between death anxiety and psychological flexibility, while there was a significant positive relationship between death anxiety and emotional processing styles, interruption, lack of attunement, lack of control, dissociation, discordant, suppression, avoidance and exogenous. Regression analysis also showed that 32% of the variance in death anxiety was predicted by psychological flexibility and emotional processing styles. Therefore, it is worth considering that providing appropriate emotional processing styles and appropriate strategies may help to improve the reasons for death anxiety in the elderly.

Keywords

• psychological flexibility
• emotion processing styles
• death anxiety
• elderly