Relationship between Death Anxiety and Resilience in Grade Four Liver Disease Patients: Mediating Role of Attachment to God

Background: Today, the global focus is shifting toward non-communicable and chronic illnesses, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.   Objectives: This study aimed to explore the impact of attachment to God as a mediator in the relationship between death anxiety and resilience among grade four liver disease patients. Methods: The present study was part of descriptive-correlational research and used cross-sectional research methods and structural equation modeling. The statistical population of this study included all grade four liver disease patients in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran, between from August to October 2023. The statistical sample included 211 grade four liver disease patients selected through purposive sampling. Research tools included the Death Anxiety Scale, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Attachment to God Inventory. SPSS software (version 27) was used to perform descriptive statistics, and SmartPLS software (version 4) was used to conduct path analysis between variables. Results: The findings of the present study showed that death anxiety had a significant negative impact on resilience (β=-0.516, P<0.001). Similarly, death anxiety significantly and negatively impacted attachment to God (β=-0.636, P<0.001). However, attachment to God, as a mediating variable, did not significantly impact resilience (β=0.111, P=0.101). Conclusion: The results indicated that having a connection to God can lower death anxiety in grade four liver disease patients. Additionally, the study found that as death anxiety increases in grade four liver disease patients, their level of resilience and attachment to God decreases.

Relationship between Death Anxiety and Resilience in Grade Four Liver Disease Patients: Mediating Role of Attachment to God Keywords:

Attachment to God , Death anxiety , Grade four liver disease patients , resilience