The impact of depression and death anxiety on the quality of life of the older people

Aging involves physiological and psychological changes that can profoundly affect the quality of life of older adults. Among these, depression and death anxiety are common psychological concerns that influence well-being in distinct ways. This study examined the effect of depression and death anxiety on the quality of life of older adults in Iran, interpreting the findings within the broader context of varying research outcomes. This cross-sectional study was conducted from September to December 2019 on 700 older people in Shiraz, Iran. Data collection tools included demographic information, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Death Anxiety Inventory, and the Quality-of-Life Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24, applying descriptive statistics (percentage, frequency, central indices, and dispersion), Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests, the Pearson correlation coefficient, and linear regression by the simultaneous method. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. The mean scores for quality of life, depression, and death anxiety were 48.56 ± 9.38, 29.16 ± 8.23, and 20.10 ± 6.43, respectively. The analysis showed a significant negative effect of depression on the quality of life (β = − 0.714, p < 0.001), indicating that as depression increases, quality of life decreases. In contrast, there was no significant effect of death anxiety on the quality of life (β = 0.039, p = 0.315). Additional findings revealed that demographic factors such as marital status, educational level, and living conditions significantly influenced the quality of life. Depression has a substantial negative effect on the quality of life of older adults, while death anxiety shows no significant impact. These psychological issues, particularly depression, are widespread in the older adult population, and with an aging population, addressing mental health issues is becoming increasingly crucial to ensuring the quality of life for older adults. Future studies should further explore the complex dynamics between these factors to guide effective interventions.