The Relationship Between Death Anxiety, Hope, and Psychological Well-Being in Individuals Diagnosed With Cancer

This study employed a descriptive and correlational research design to examine the relationship between death anxiety, hope, and psychological well-being in individuals diagnosed with cancer. Conducted in 2024 with 188 patients receiving treatment at an education and research hospital in Turkey, the study collected data using the Personal Information Form, the Death Anxiety Scale, the Dispositional Hope Scale, and the Psychological Well-Being Scale. Findings indicated that the mean total score of the Death Anxiety Scale was 7.32 ± 2.53. Death anxiety scores differed significantly by gender, marital status, educational level, cancer type, cancer stage, treatment type, hope, and psychological well-being (p < 0.05), but not by employment status, income level, or social security (p > 0.05). No significant association was found between age and death anxiety (p > 0.05). Moderate negative correlations were observed between death anxiety and hope, as well as between death anxiety and psychological well-being (p < 0.05). These results suggest that increases in death anxiety are associated with decreases in both hope and psychological well-being. Future research is recommended to further explore the influence of death anxiety on psychological health outcomes and to identify additional contributing factors. © The Author(s) 2026