Impact of Death Anxiety on Psychological Well-Being and Successful Aging of Older Adults With Chronic Illness.

Comorbidities due to aging and the COVID-19 pandemic together are expected to cause death anxiety among older adults. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of death anxiety and its impact on psychological well-being and successful aging of older adults with chronic illness. A cross-sectional correlational survey was conducted on 79 older adults with chronic illness, drawn with a stratified random sampling method. Self-report measures were used to assess death anxiety, psychological well-being, and successful aging. A high prevalence of death anxiety was reported among older adults. Psychological well-being and successful aging in these older adults were significantly and negatively associated with death anxiety. Further, death anxiety showed substantial predictive valence for psychological well-being and successful aging of older adults with chronic illness. Findings strongly advocate and call for timely intervention programs for chronically ill older adults to reduce their death anxiety for enhanced psychological well-being and promote successful aging.

Depression, Anxiety and Stress Among Arsenic-Induced Cancer Patients in Indo-Gangetic Plains of Bihar: Role of Proactive Coping.

Arsenic induced cancer is a major public health issue in Indo-Gangetic plains of Bihar, India where 22 out of 38 districts report arsenic contamination of groundwater. Its psychological aspect is under studied in contrast to the physiological and social. This baseline correlational survey research explores the relationship and role of proactive coping on depression, anxiety and stress among this population. Depression, anxiety and stress were assessed in 77 consenting arsenic induced cancer patients with depression, anxiety and stress scales. Proactive Coping was assessed with proactive coping inventory. Results demonstrated negative association and influence of proactive coping on stress, anxiety and depression. Avoidance coping associated positively with depression and reflective coping predicted for depression and anxiety. The findings advocate for more research attention on psychological aspects of arsenic induced cancer. Timely psychological interventions to build proactive coping are warranted to alleviate depression, anxiety and stress among this population.