Relationship between death anxiety and spiritual intelligence: the potential mediating role of meaning of life and resilience in Iranian older people

Abstract Introduction The older people, as one of the vulnerable groups in society, face various challenges. Paying attention to their needs and issues during this period of life can improve their quality of life and mental health. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between death anxiety and spiritual intelligence with the potential mediating role of the search for meaning and resilience among Iranian older people. Methods This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 348 older people over 60 years old in Zanjan, Iran, in 2024. The participants were selected using the Cochran formula. The instruments used in this study were the Spiritual Intelligence Scale, the Death Anxiety Scale, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Data analysis was performed using Pearson correlation coefficient and path analysis. Results The results showed a significant negative correlation between spiritual intelligence and death anxiety. In addition, the two variables of search for meaning and resilience played a potential mediating role in the relationship between spiritual intelligence and death anxiety. The goodness-of-fit indices of the final research model indicated a good fit, confirming the significance of the research hypotheses. Conclusion Based on the results, it is suggested that conducting educational programs for the older people and their families can help control death anxiety and enhance spiritual intelligence. This action can improve the quality of life and reduce psychological distress among the older people.