Religious Behaviors and Death Anxiety in Later Life

Investigators have demonstrated that religion may play a role in enabling certain groups of elderly persons to cope more effectively with the fears and stresses of old age. The current study examines the relationship between intrapsychic and community-oriented religious behaviors and the feelings of fear concerning death reported by a group of community-dwelling elderly. Questionnaires were distributed to 708 persons attending senior lunch programs sponsored by the Missouri State Division of Aging. Responses of participants indicated that the vast majority experienced little or no fear of death. Respondents very likely to use religious beliefs and prayer during stressful situations were significantly more likely to report low or no fear about death (10.3% vs. 24.3%). This relationship was particularly noticeable for older respondents (age 75 and over) and for women. There was also a tendency for those with higher levels of involvement in the religious community to experience lower death anxiety, but this did not reach statistical significance (p = .07). In summary, elderly individuals who employ intrapsychic or cognitive religious behaviors to deal with stressful or difficult life situations appear to more effectively cope with the anxiety and fears surrounding death. Such cognitive coping behaviors may have particular relevance for the sick and disabled older person with few coping resources and little control over the environment.