Work

Death anxiety and death literacy among Turkish patients with chronic diseases: a cross-sectional study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Death anxiety is common in patients with chronic diseases. Death literacy is a novel theoretical framework that enables patients to discuss death, accept it as a natural aspect of life, and get a deeper comprehension of it. However, it is unclear whether there is a relationship between death literacy and death anxiety. Furthermore, death literacy has not been sufficiently researched in Turkish society. This study investigated the levels of death anxiety and death literacy among Turkish patients with chronic diseases and the factors affecting death anxiety. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of Turkish patients with chronic diseases (n = 225). The data were collected with the Turkish Death Anxiety Scale and the Death Literacy Index. Pearson correlation, independent samples t test, One-Way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression were employed to analyse the data. RESULTS: = 0.128, F = 3.153, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that death literacy level and gender were found to be factors affecting death anxiety of patients. Women have higher death anxiety scores. While the level of death literacy of Turkish patients with chronic diseases increases, their death anxiety decreases. The findings of the study were believed to offer a comprehensive information for healthcare practitioners in the management of such patients.

Source: BMC Psychiatry

DOI: 10.1186/s12888-025-06761-z

Authors: Vahide Semerci Çakmak, Ahmet Seven, Ebru Sönmez Sari

Institutions: Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa Üniversitesi, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, Bayburt University

Language: English

Topic: Death, Funerary Practices, and Mourning

Subfield: Anthropology

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,290