Social Support, Body Image, and Death Anxiety in Later Life: A Cross-Sectional Study in Yazd City, Iran

Mohammad Ali  Morowatisharifabad; Fatemeh  Mozaffari; Sara  Jambarsang; Reza  Bidaki

doi:10.18502/ehj.v10i1.15962

Mohammad Ali Morowatisharifabad Department of Aging and Health, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Fatemeh Mozaffari Department of Aging and Health, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Sara Jambarsang Department of Bio-Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Reza Bidaki Research Center of Addiction and Behavioral Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd , Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ehj.v10i1.15962

Keywords: Social Support, Body Image, Death Anxiety, Aging

Abstract

Introduction: Social support is a crucial factor in how well older adults adjust to the aging process and related challenges, such as anxiety about death. Body image in older adults is a complex and important concept, yet it has been under-researched. This study examined the correlations between social support, death anxiety, and body image in older adults residing in Yazd City, Iran.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved older adults from Yazd City, Iran, who visited comprehensive urban health centers in 2022. A convenience sample of 200 participants was selected. They completed questionnaires on demographics, social support perception, body image concerns, and death anxiety.

Results: The total social support score (p < 0.01) as well as the score of family support (p < 0.05) and others' support (p < 0.01) showed a significant negative correlation with death anxiety. However, no significant association was found between death anxiety and body image, nor between social support and body image. Regression analysis revealed that only "support from others" was a significant predictor of death anxiety (p < 0.01). Men reported receiving more friends' social support than women (p < 0.05). Participants with higher socioeconomic status were more likely to receive greater family’s social support (p < 0.01) and experience less death anxiety (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Social support positively impacts the mental well-being and morale of older adults. It can, therefore, be considered a readily available resource and a form of social capital to reduce death anxiety, enhance their sense of purpose, and improve their quality of life.