Determining the Relationship Between Death Anxiety with Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Levels in Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Sample From Turkey

Abstract

INTRODUCTION During the pandemic, mental problems such as depression, anxiety, and stress may increase death anxiety. Thus, this study aims to examine women’s levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and death anxiety, and to investigate the correlation between them, during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 665 women using an online survey in Turkey. The research sample was determined by applying convenience sampling and snowball methods according to the principle of accessibility-availability. RESULTS The mean Death Anxiety Scale score of the participants was 8.97±3.35, and the mean scores of depression, anxiety, stress and total Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) were 5.23±3.93, 3.47±2.93, 5.99±3.74 and 14.69±9.51, respectively. A significant relationship was found between the women’s death anxiety and their depression, anxiety, and stress levels. These findings indicate that the women had moderate death anxiety, mild depression, everyday anxiety, and stress levels. With the pandemic, death anxiety increased in women, especially those with chronic diseases and a history of medical or psychiatric illnesses. CONCLUSIONS The results of the study show that there was a significant positive correlation between the stress, depression, and anxiety levels of the women and their death anxiety. It is profoundly essential for the midwives and nurses charged with serving and caring for women to be conscious and aware of the issue. © 2022,European Journal of Midwifery.All Rights Reserved.