AGE DENSITY, RELIGIOSITY AND DEATH ANXIETY IN RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES

Two different images of death anxiety (DA) among residents of retirement communities are examined: one suggesting retirement community residents face special problems regarding DA because they are surrounded by many older people who are vulnerable to illness and death, and the other portraying them as having low DA because of their high religiosity. Results of a survey of 674 residents from six West Coast retirement communities do not support the age density argument. ANOVA and other tests fail to find the age climate of the community to have an impact on DA. On the other hand, regression analysis finds that attendance at religious services is associated with low DA, whereas private religious practices, significance of religion to self; and social activities are not In retrospect the findings on the importance of religion support Durkheim's thesis regarding the importance of participation in shared religious rituals.