The Mediating Role of Death Anxiety in the Relationship Between Empty Nest Syndrome and Psychological Well-Being Among Older Adults
Keywords:
Death anxiety, empty nest, psychological well, being, elderly peopleAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of death anxiety in the relationship between empty nest syndrome and psychological well-being among older adults.
Methods and Materials: This applied correlational study employed a structural equation modeling approach. The study population consisted of adults aged 60 years and older in 2025, from whom 200 participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Ryff and Keyes Psychological Well-Being Scale, Templer’s Death Anxiety Scale, and the Empty Nest Syndrome Questionnaire developed by Khashaman and colleagues. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS-26 and AMOS-26. The mediating effect of death anxiety was examined using the bootstrap method with 5,000 resamples.
Findings: The results indicated that empty nest syndrome was significantly and negatively associated with psychological well-being (r = -0.34, p < 0.01). Death anxiety was negatively associated with psychological well-being (r = -0.45, p < 0.01) and positively associated with empty nest syndrome (r = 0.35, p < 0.01). Structural model analysis revealed a significant negative direct effect of empty nest syndrome on psychological well-being (β = -0.21, p = 0.013). Furthermore, death anxiety had a significant negative direct effect on psychological well-being (β = -0.60, p = 0.001). Bootstrap analysis demonstrated a significant indirect effect of empty nest syndrome on psychological well-being through death anxiety (β = -0.13, p = 0.003), confirming the partial mediating role of death anxiety.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that the experience of an empty nest is associated with lower psychological well-being among older adults, and this relationship is partly explained by increased death anxiety. Death anxiety appears to be an important psychological mechanism through which empty nest experiences influence mental well-being. Therefore, interventions focused on meaning in life, acceptance of aging, reduction of death anxiety, and enhancement of social support may contribute to improving psychological well-being among older adults.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Parnia Sadeghi (Author); Zohreh Latifi
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