TY - JOUR PY - 2024// TI - The effect of gratitude on death anxiety is fully mediated by optimism in Lebanese adults following the 2023 earthquake JO - BMC psychology A1 - Al Boukhary, Reem A1 - Hallit, Rabih A1 - Postigo, Álvaro A1 - Malaeb, Diana A1 - Dabbous, Mariam A1 - Sakr, Fouad A1 - El Khatib, Sami A1 - Fekih-Romdhane, Feten A1 - Hallit, Souheil A1 - Obeid, Sahar SP - e2 EP - e2 VL - 12 IS - 1 N2 - BACKGROUND: Exploring the levels of death anxiety and factors that can undermine its impact are crucial for the Lebanese nationals. Even though studies have shown various relationships between death anxiety and several factors, very few to no research has been done to show the relationship of death anxiety, gratitude and optimism. Therefore, the objectives of our study were to assess the mediating role of optimism in the association between gratitude and death anxiety, along with investigating the validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the Death Anxiety Scale.

METHODS: A one-time-point online survey was conducted among Arabic-speaking community adults from the general population of Lebanon (N = 601; mean age 29.91 ± 12.61; 62.7% females). The following scales were used: Scale of Death Anxiety, Optimism-Pessimism Short Scale-2, and Gratitude Questionnaire-Six-Item Form.

RESULTS: The results of the mediation analysis showed that optimism fully mediated the association between gratitude and death anxiety. Higher gratitude was significantly associated with more optimism; higher optimism was significantly associated with less death anxiety. Finally, higher gratitude was not directly associated with death anxiety.

CONCLUSION: Our study reveals the relationship between gratitude and death anxiety and the mediating role of optimism. Our results need to be confirmed in a longitudinal study, but point to the importance of assessing optimism in prevention and management of persons with death anxiety.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 2050-7283 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01509-4 ID - ref1 ER -