재가 장애노인의 영성과 죽음불안, 우울과의 관계

Abstract

The goal of this study was to explore the mediating effect of death anxiety on the relationship between spirituality and depression among the disabled elderly. A survey was conducted of 268 community-dwelling disabled elderly. Multiple regression model was used to analyze the associations of spirituality and death anxiety with depression and the mediating effect of death anxiety using Baron and Kenny’s (1986) approach. Results showed that spirituality was inversely associated with depression and death anxiety, and disabled elderly with greater spirituality experienced less depression and death anxiety. Moreover, the relationship between spirituality and depression was partially mediated by death anxiety after controlling for socio-demographic variables. Findings indicated the spirituality and death anxiety could be important resources for alleviating depression of community dwelling disabled elderly. Consequently, interventions for disabled elderly with depression need to be considered their spiritual needs with death anxiety.