ASSESSMENT OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOPELESSNESS LEVEL AND DEATH ANXIETY IN GERIATRIC INDIVIDUALS

Introduction: This study aimed to examine the relationship between hopelessness and death anxiety among geriatric individuals. Materials and Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with individuals aged 65 years and older (N = 220) registered at a community health center in Turkey. Participants completed the Descriptive Characteristics Form and as well as the Death Anxiety Scale and the Beck Hopelessness Scale. Results: The mean scores for death anxiety and hopelessness were 53.32 ± 13.29 and 9.42 ± 3.86, respectively. The study revealed that the subdimensions of the Death Anxiety Scale were predominantly positively and weakly correlated with hopelessness and hope components, while motivation loss showed varying levels of negative correlation (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings indicate that geriatric individuals experience above-moderate levels of death anxiety and report moderate levels of hopelessness. Furthermore, it was observed that as feelings of hopelessness increased, death anxiety intensified accordingly. Keywords: Aged; Anxiety; Death; Mental Health.