Investigate the Effect of Death Anxiety on the Psychological Distress of Ecotourist Elderly by the Mediation Role of Mindfulness

Introduction: Given the growing population of the elderly, understanding the factors related to the lives of the elderly is necessary to plan and help promote their mental health. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of death anxiety on mental distress in Semnan province's ecotourist elderly with the mediation of mindfulness. Methods: This study is applied and descriptive in terms of purpose. The statistical population consisted of the elderly over sixty years old in Semnan province who had at least three times ecotourism during spring to summer of 2019. The statistical sample size was estimated at one hundred ninety-five people. The data collection tools were questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Lisrel software.  Results: The findings showed that death anxiety positively affected elderly mental distress directly and indirectly. Death anxiety had a negative direct effect on mindfulness; mindfulness negativly and directly affected mental distress.  Conclusions: Participation in activities such as ecotourism will increase the level of mindfulness and consequently mental health. It also decreases anxiety of death and mental distress.