The Role of Social Support and Spiritual Health in Predicting Death Anxiety in Patients with Cancer

Understanding the relationship between social support and spiritual health with death anxiety in patients with cancer is crucial for developing effective interventions to improve their quality of life and reduce distress. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of social support and spiritual health on death anxiety in cancer patients, with a specific focus on determining the relative contributions of each factor. This descriptive-correlational study included all patients with cancer in Tehran as the study population in 2023. A total of 302 patients with cancer were selected as the sample using a convenience sampling method. The instruments included questionnaires on death anxiety, social support, and spiritual health. Data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression. Findings revealed a significant negative association between social support and death anxiety (P<0.001). Additionally, a significant negative association was found between spiritual health and death anxiety (P<0.001). According to the results, spiritual health had a greater association with death anxiety in patients with cancer. Based on these findings, both social support and spiritual health contribute to mitigating death anxiety among cancer patients. Notably, spiritual health appears to have a more pronounced impact on reducing death anxiety compared to social support in this population. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating psychosocial interventions that address both social support and spiritual well-being into comprehensive cancer care.