Fear of death killing you?

Depression is becoming more pervasive in American society, and questions remain as to the role that depression plays at various stages in peoples’ lives. Most people experience fear of death at some time or other, and there may be a link between fear of death, depression and even physical illness.

Research shows that fear of death is more common in midlife than it is in later life stages. Still, depression appears to be a big problem amongst the older population, pointing to the possibility that depression in the elderly isn’t necessarily linked to fear of death. Several factors are at work here, and what causes depression later in life could be attributed to a variety of issues.

A recent study performed at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece found that depression in later life could be linked to vascular disease. They found that depression appeared to be a strong predicting factor for stroke. However, the presence of religious practices seemed to protect against stroke. It appeared that religiosity worked against depression, pointing to the possibility that depression contributed to risk of stroke. Researchers also believe that vascular disease could lead to depressive symptoms. It is well known that one of the symptoms of heart worms in dogs is depression. Perhaps vascular problems in humans contribute to depressive symptoms as well.

More research needs to be done to draw a definitive link between vascular disease and depression in later life. These results point to a need for more extensive diagnostics for the elderly experiencing depression.

A previous study at the University of Newcastle wanted to determine the link between vascular disease and depression, questioning the hypothesis that vascular disease predisposes, precipitates or perpetuates depression. The results of their study showed that depression may contribute to vascular disease and vice versa.

Other studies have investigated the link between spirituality and emotional health at the end of life. Researchers at the University of Florida and St. Mary’s College of Maryland found that older adults often have fear of death and anxiety, but they found that increasing religious involvement didn’t necessarily decrease these feelings of anxiety.

Instead, they found that fear of death was lessened in people who had a sense of purpose. Sense of purpose is more of a spiritual principle than a religious activity. They found that sense of purpose had a positive effect on subjective well-being, alleviating fear of death and the anxiety that results.

While more research is needed, these preliminary findings point to spirituality as a way to combat depression and fear of death in later life. If depression is a predisposing factor for depression in the elderly, combating depression in later life is of special importance because it can increase physical as well as emotional health.

© Copyright 2007 Insight Journal Online Magazine.

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