FEAR OF DEATH AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG ELDERLY IN KOLAR -A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: Elderly individuals are an important asset for every society. Growing older is a common process that has positive as well as negative aspects. In India elderly are defined as people 60 years or more than 60 years by National Policy. According to some, unresolved psychological and physical distress is likely the cause of death anxiety. Objectives: Among elderly people more than 60 years

1. To estimate the prevalence of Fear of Death

2. To assess the Quality of Life 3. To determine the association between the Fear of Death and Quality of Life

Materials and methods: A community based cross sectional study using cluster random sampling technique conducted in Kolar, rural Karnataka. Among the 20 villages in rural Kolar, seven villages were randomly selected, respondents aged 60 years and above were approached to complete required sample of 270.Descriptive statistics like frequencies, proportions and confidence intervals were used. Chi-square test applied test the significance difference. Mean and Standard deviation were calculated. The Mann-Whitney U test for subgroup analysis were done. Results: Among the study participants, majority were female (55.5%) ,60% illiterate and majority were as farmers (63.3%). The prevalence of fear of death among study participants found that 12.6% had mild death anxiety, 74.4% had moderate death anxiety, and 13% had high death anxiety. In terms of quality of life, the mean scores of social xii domains were highest 46.55±16.59, and the environmental domain was lowest 40.38±11.606 Conclusion: Fear of death can negatively impact quality of life by creating negative emotional states. However, it also has the potential to improve life through greater mindfulness and deeper engagement with personal values. Therefore, the effect of Death anxiety on quality of life largely depends on an individual's ability to confront and integrate this fear into their overall perspective on life.