Salāmat-i ijtimā̒ī (Nov 2018)
Role of Personality Trait and Locus of Control in Predicting Death Anxiety among People Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Abstract
Background and Objective: Patients who are infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) face extensive range of psychological problems such as death anxiety, the rate and severity of which could be affected by various factors. The aim of this study was to predict death anxiety based on personality traits and locus of control of patients infected with HIV. Materials and Methods: This descriptive correlational study was performed with participation of 100 patients infected with HIV who were referred to Behavioral Disorder Counseling Center of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran by purposeful sampling method. Data were gathered by Templer's death anxiety scale, Neo’s personality traits and Rotter’s scale of locus control. Data were analyzed using step-by-step regression and correlation in SPSS-22. Results: The mean (SD) score of neuroticism was 25.1 (7.8), extraversion 28.0 (6.6), conscientiousness 33.8 (6.9), openness 24.4 (4.5), agreeableness 29.1 (5.4), and locus of control 14.1 (3.6). Among personality factors, only agreeableness had a negative and significant association with death anxiety (P<0.05, r=0.231), as death anxiety decreased with a decreased level of agreeableness. In addition, 9% of the variance of death anxiety score was predicted by personality factors. Conclusion: The study showed that personality traits could predict death anxiety of patients infected with HIV and locus of control could not predict death anxiety among these patients.
