2Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Psikiyatri Anabilim Dalı ESKİŞEHİR
3Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Halk Sağlığı Anabilim Dalı ESKİŞEHİR Introduction: The aim of the sudy was to evaluate the relationship between death anxiety and perceived social support.
Materials and Method: The study was conducted on elderly people aged60 years or older, living in a nursing home and in a district. A questionnaire regarding socio-demographic characteristics, and also “Templer's Death Anxiety Scale” and “Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support” were applied to the participants by using interviewer administration method.
Results: Mean Social Support Scale scores were 42.1 points for nursing home residents and 58.1 for community residents. The mean Death Anxiety scores in the nursing home was 6.3 points while it was 7.7 for the community residents. for “Support from a special person”, “family support” and “social support” scores of the elderly living in the community were higher than those of the nursing home residents. Death Anxiety increased with the rise in "family support" scores. Death Anxiety was higher among the community residents. Death Anxiety tended to decrease by ageing.
Conclusion: It is concluded that, there is a need for creation of social environment for the elderly.
Keywords : Nursing Home; Aged; Social Support