The Role of Meaning in Life in Relation to Death Anxiety among Elderly Athletes With and Without Cancer
Subject Areas :
1 - M.A. in Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Semnan Branch,. ,Iran
Keywords: Meaning in life, death anxiety, elderly, athletes.,
Abstract :
Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of meaning in life on death anxiety among elderly athletes with cancer and those without cancer. Methods: Data were collected from 200 elderly athletes over the age of 65 in Semnan city, divided into two groups of 100 individuals each — one group consisting of participants with cancer and the other without cancer. Results: Meaning in life had a significant impact on reducing death anxiety, with a stronger effect observed among elderly athletes with cancer compared to those without (p = 0.012). This indicates that enhancing meaning in life can effectively reduce death anxiety. The results of the two-way ANOVA analysis showed that meaning in life significantly influences death anxiety. The analyses also revealed that elderly athletes with cancer experience higher levels of death anxiety than their non-cancer counterparts. Furthermore, higher levels of meaning in life were significantly associated with lower levels of death anxiety. The impact of meaning in life on death anxiety was greater among elderly athletes with cancer. Conclusion: Based on the findings, meaning in life can be particularly effective in reducing death anxiety, especially in the group of elderly athletes with cancer. It appears that interventions aimed at strengthening meaning in life can be especially beneficial in alleviating death anxiety in this population.
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