Emotion Regulation Mediates the Associations of Loneliness and Empathy with Death Anxiety in the Elderly

Introduction: In old age, diseases and frailty can be minimized through proper care and understanding, paving the way for healthy and normative aging. The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of emotion regulation in the relationship between loneliness and empathy with death anxiety in the elderly. Methods: This study utilized structural equation modeling. The statistical population included all elderly residents of Ahvaz, Iran, in 2023. Convenient sampling was employed to select 108 elderly individuals. The research instruments included the Death Anxiety Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale, Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Pearson correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling were adopted for data analysis. Results: There was a direct relationship between loneliness and adaptive emotion regulation and maladaptive emotion regulation in the elderly. Additionally, there was a direct relationship between empathy and death anxiety, adaptive emotion regulation, and maladaptive emotion regulation. Moreover, a positive relationship was observed between maladaptive emotion regulation and death anxiety, while a negative relationship existed between adaptive emotion regulation and death anxiety in the elderly (p < 0.001). The results revealed an indirect relationship between loneliness and death anxiety mediated by emotion regulation. There was also an indirect relationship between empathy and death anxiety mediated by emotion regulation (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The proposed model exhibited a good fit. Therefore, raising awareness and implementing measures to empower the elderly in emotion regulation concerning the relationship between loneliness and empathy can play a key role in reducing their death anxiety.