Personality and Demographic Factors in Older Adults' Fear of Death

Study objectives were to clarify controversy regarding the factors influencing fear of death in old age, using a hypothesized path model. Participants were 123 African American and 265 White elders aged 60 to 100; they were assessed on specific fears of death, religiosity, externality, perceived social support, socioeconomic status, age, ethnicity, and gender. Externality, religiosity, and social support had direct effects on fear of the unknown, whereas remaining variables had indirect effects (p < .05). Externality, religiosity, ethnicity, age, and gender all had direct effects on fear of dying, with the background factors also having indirect effects. Conclusions underscore the need for practitioners to understand and consider older adults' fears.