Factors related to the preparing behavior for coping with death and dying among older adults in the elderly club, Pattani province

Abstract

This descriptive correlation research aimed at to study the levels of preparing behavior for coping with death and dying and factors related to the preparing behavior for coping with death and dying among older adults in the elderly clubs, Pattani province. The sample of 236 older adults in the elderly club were randomly selected by simple random sampling. The research instruments included personal data interview, perceived health status interview, death anxiety interview, religious belief interview, social support interview and preparing behavior for coping with death and dying interview. This study was conducted from March – April 2011. Data were analyzed by Pearson’ s product-moment correlation coefficient, Point biserial correlation coefficient and Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient.

The results revealed that the majority of samples had high level of preparing behavior for coping with death and dying 55.9 %. Death anxiety were moderate level statistically significant negative relationship (r = -.498), religious belief and social support were moderate level statistically significant positive relationship (r = .448, .332), perceived health status were low level statistically significant negative relationship (r = -.253) with preparing behavior for coping with death and dying at the level of .01. Age and experience for death were low level statistically significant negative relationship (r =.154, r = .146) with preparing behavior for coping with death and dying at the level of .05. However gender, education and marital status was not statistically significant relationship with preparing behavior for coping with death and dying among older adults.

Health care providers should focus on this issue and develop related predictors of the preparing behavior for coping with death and dying among older adults in the elderly club. The programs aim at to decrease death anxiety, support to religious activity and education the family person for support the preparing behavior for coping with death and dying among older adults in the next time.