Rababa Mohammad, Alhammad Balqis Mohammad, Hayajneh Audai A, Telfah Reem
Department of Adult Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Department of Community and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Omega (Westport). 2024 Oct 17:302228241292806. doi: 10.1177/00302228241292806.
Ageism and death anxiety are still underrecognized and not well-examined among nursing students despite the high prevalence in nursing education and clinical practice. According to terror management theory (TMT), older adults are a potent reminder of mortality and disability, imposing a sense of death anxiety among nursing students who may exhibit ageist behaviors toward older adults in an attempt to control that sense of death anxiety. This study aims to examine the moderating effect of TMT defense mechanisms on the relationship between death anxiety and ageism among nursing students. This correlational, cross-sectional study used a convenience sample of 371 nursing students and validated tools. Self-esteem was found to be a significant moderator, with higher levels mitigating the impact of death anxiety on ageism. However, symbolic immortality and interpersonal relationships did not significantly moderate this relationship. Enhancing self-esteem among nursing students would reduce death anxiety and associated ageist behaviors.
尽管年龄歧视和死亡焦虑在护理教育和临床实践中普遍存在，但在护理专业学生中，它们仍未得到充分认识和深入研究。根据恐惧管理理论（TMT），老年人强烈地提醒着人们死亡和残疾的存在，这在护理专业学生中引发了一种死亡焦虑感，他们可能会对老年人表现出年龄歧视行为，试图控制这种死亡焦虑感。本研究旨在探讨TMT防御机制在护理专业学生死亡焦虑与年龄歧视关系中的调节作用。这项相关性横断面研究使用了371名护理专业学生的便利样本，并采用了经过验证的工具。研究发现自尊是一个重要的调节因素，较高水平的自尊可以减轻死亡焦虑对年龄歧视的影响。然而，象征性永生和人际关系并未显著调节这种关系。提高护理专业学生的自尊将减少死亡焦虑及相关的年龄歧视行为。
