Relationship between identity and attitude toward death in Japanese senior citizens

This study aimed to clarify the relationship between identity development stages and attitudes towards death among Japanese senior citizens. The subjects were recruited from among approximately 500 students attending educational courses for senior citizens in Prefecture A. We collected the data by using the questionnaire and interview. The con- tents of questionnaire were Erikson Psychosocial Stage Inventory (EPSI) and Death Atti- tude Profile-Revised (DAP-R). In the interview, we represented the four developmental stages, and asked the questions from birth to the present. The collection rate was 85.4% (427 subjects). And 10 subjects participated in the interview. In relation to correlations between the EPSI sub-factors and the DAP-R subscales, there were moderately strong, negative correlations between "Integrity" and "Fear of death" and between "Integrity" and "Avoidance of death". In relation to the subjects' reflections on their lives, the follow- ing four categories were extracted : (Trust relationships with others), (Self-confidence regarding my own efforts), (Wanting to contribute to society), and (Let things be as they are). These results suggested that the accomplishment of "Integrity", which is the devel- opmental task in the maturity stage, leads to the attitude of accepting one's whole life. Fur- ther, we have clarified that "Integrity" promotes the acceptance of death. J. Med. Invest. 61 : 103-117, February, 2014