Evidence mapPaperPMID 41450698Full record

ReviewFrontiers in psychology2025

Psychological and behavioural responses to death anxiety in older adults with chronic illnesses: a systematic integrative review.

Leovaldo Alcântara, Teodora Figueiredo, Luís Midão, Elísio Costa, Constança Paúl

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in psychology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Leovaldo AlcântaraSchool of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Teodora FigueiredoSchool of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Luís MidãoRISE-Health, Competence Center for Active and Healthy Aging, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Elísio CostaRISE-Health, Competence Center for Active and Healthy Aging, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Constança PaúlRISE-Health, Department of Behavioural Sciences, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Death anxiety has been identified as a relevant emotional response in older adults with chronic illness, but its role in shaping psychological and behavioural responses remains underexplored. Objective: This integrative review aimed to investigate how death anxiety influences the emotional and behavioural responses of older adults living with chronic conditions, and to identify theoretical and clinical implications. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases, using an integrative review framework. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria and were analysed using thematic synthesis and quality appraisal. Results: Death anxiety was associated with both negative and positive or adaptive outcomes, including emotional distress, avoidance behaviours, increased treatment adherence, and re-evaluation of personal values. Thematic analysis revealed five key domains: (1) psychological responses; (2) behavioural responses; (3) predictors and moderators; (4) spirituality as a buffer; and (5) assessment strategies. Conclusion: Death anxiety plays a central and context-dependent role in shaping health-related behaviours in later life. Its effects are moderated by factors such as spirituality, social support, disease burden, and emotional resilience. These findings support the development of integrative clinical models that combine existential and behavioural frameworks to improve adherence and well-being in older populations.

Indexed as

chronic diseaseexistential reflectionmortality salienceolder adultstreatment adherence

Identifiers

PMID41450698
PMCPMC12728577

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.