Relationship between perceived stress and death anxiety with mediating role of self-transcendence among older patients with myocardial infarction.

Among older adults who have had a myocardial infarction, higher perceived stress is linked to greater death anxiety, and this relationship is partly explained by lower self-transcendence. In a sample of 252 older patients, those with more perceived stress reported more death anxiety, and self-transcendence mediated that connection. The findings suggest that fostering self-transcendence—through practices such as meaning-centered therapy or mindfulness—could help reduce death anxiety in cardiac rehabilitation.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Death anxiety represents a persistent form of anxiety experienced by patients with Myocardial Infarction (MI), even after receiving medical treatment. Recognizing the critical role of self-transcendence in managing emotions and anxiety, this study aims to investigate the relationship between perceived stress and death anxiety with the mediating role of self-transcendence among older patients with MI. This descriptive and correlational study, conducted in 2023, included 252 older patients with MI. Participants were selected through a convenience sampling method. Data was collected using the Templer Death Anxiety Scale, the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale, and the Reed Self-Transcendence questionnaires. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to examine the mediating role of self-transcendence in the relationship between perceived stress and death anxiety. The study comprised 252 older patients with a mean age of 66.98 ± 6.92 years. The majority of participants were male (n = 188, 74.6%) and married (n = 191, 75.8%). The mean scores for perceived stress, death anxiety, and self-transcendence were 29.48 ± 4.30, 8.86 ± 3.28, and 41.81 ± 6.29, respectively. The results of SEM analysis revealed a significant association between perceived stress and death anxiety (β = 0.16, P = 0.04), with self-transcendence playing a mediating role (β = 0.20, P < 0.001), in this relationship. Based on the mediating role of self-transcendence, clinically, healthcare providers should assess for and facilitate self-transcendent practices as a component of routine cardiac rehabilitation. Policymakers and program directors should fund and integrate evidence-based interventions like meaning-centered psychotherapy or mindfulness-based stress reduction, which are known to cultivate self-transcendence, into standard post-MI care pathways to directly target the reduction of death anxiety.