Modeling   the  structural equations  of  death  anxiety based on perceived  social support and psychological toughness  mediated by resilience in  the  elderly in Tehran care centers

Garmsiri Mahvar, Amirata; Shomali Oskoei, Arezoo; Taheri, Afsaneh

doi:10.22038/mjms.2025.83942.4822

Modeling the structural equations of death anxiety based on perceived social support and psychological toughness mediated by resilience in the elderly in Tehran care centers

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

amirata Garmsiri Mahvar ¹

Arezoo Shomali oskoei ²

Afsaneh Taheri ³

¹ PhD student Clinical Psychology , Department of Psychology , Roudehen Branch , Islamic Azad University, Roudehen , Iran.

² Assistant Professor، Department of Psychology , Roudehen Branch , Islamic Azad University ,Roudehen ,Iran. **

³ Assistant Professor، Department of Psychology , Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen , Iran.

10.22038/mjms.2025.83942.4822

Abstract

Considering the increasing population of Iranian elderly, it is necessary to investigate the determinants of death anxiety. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the structural equation modeling of death anxiety based on perceived social support and psychological hardiness mediated by resilience in the elderly. The statistical population of the present study was elderly men and women in Tehran, 302 of whom were selected through purposive sampling and responded to the Templar Death Anxiety, Perceived Social Support, Psychological Hardiness, and Resilience questionnaires. The findings showed that psychological hardiness, social support, and resilience predict death anxiety in the elderly. All path coefficients on death anxiety were statistically significant, and social support and psychological hardiness, in addition to their direct effect, also had an effect on death anxiety in the elderly through the mediator variable of resilience. Perceived social support and psychological hardiness have a negative and significant effect on death anxiety.Resilience indirectly mediates with a confidence level of 99 between perceived social support and death anxiety in the elderly; also, according to the results obtained, resilience indirectly mediates with a confidence level of 95 between psychological hardiness and death anxiety in the elderly. The model had a favorable fit with the observed data. Strengthening perceived social support and psychological hardiness are among the appropriate methods for preventing and reducing vulnerability to mental health problems in the elderly.It is better to pay attention to these variables to reduce death anxiety in the elderly and improve their mental health.

Keywords

Death anxiety

perceived social support

psychological hardiness

mediation

resilience