Prediction of Death Anxiety among COVID-19 Patients Based on Meaning of Life, Spiritual Intelligence, and Social Cohesion

Background and Purpose: Coronavirus pandemic has affected numerous people across the globe. This disease threatens physical health, disrupts daily life, and causes sudden death anxiety that increases gradually by the announcement of Coronavirus deaths. Due to the importance of reducing death anxiety, the present study aimed to predict death anxiety among COVID-19 patients based on the meaning of life, spiritual intelligence, and social cohesion. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on all COVID-19 patients from five hospitals in Qom in 2020. The sample size was determined at 120 subjects using Fidel and Tabachnik formulas, as well as the available sampling method. The participants were asked to complete the Templar’s Death Anxiety Scale, Steger’s Meaning of Life, King’s Spiritual Intelligence, and Social Cohesion subscale from Keyes’s Social Welfare Questionnaire. The data were analyzed in SPSS24 software using Pearson correlation and multiple regression methods. Results: As illustrated by the obtained results, the meaning of life, spiritual intelligence, and social cohesion can predict death anxiety among the COVID-19 patients (P<0.01). The results of multiple regression analysis pointed out that the three factors predict 31% of death anxiety among the patients. Conclusion: It is a necessity to improve meaning in life, spiritual intelligence, and social cohesion as influential factors on the reduction of death anxiety in COVID-19 patients. This key finding in Iran could be useful and necessary in designing therapy programs for patients who have supportive religious and cultural beliefs. Therefore, it is suggested that these factors must be taken into consideration by the medical staff in therapeutic interventions.