Examining the moderating role of religiosity in the relationship between death anxiety and depression in Iranian community-dwelling older adults

ABSTRACT

The present study examines the moderating role of religiosity in the association between death anxiety and depression among Iranian community-dwelling older adults. This study recruited 340 participants using a cluster sampling method. The data were collected using the Templer Death Anxiety Scale, Goldberg Depression Questionnaire, and Allport-Ross Intrinsic/Extrinsic Religious Orientation Scale. The moderating role of intrinsic (death anxiety × intrinsic: β = -.048, p = .388) and extrinsic (death anxiety × extrinsic: β = -.011, p = .831) religiosity in the relationship between death anxiety and depression was not confirmed. The findings did not support the moderating role of religiosity in the relationship between death anxiety and depression. Further studies are recommended to confirm these results.

KEYWORDS:

• Aged
• depression
• death anxiety
• religion

Acknowledgement

The researchers express their gratitude to the respected research assistants of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences and to all the participants of the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).