본 연구는 노인의 죽음준비도를 독립변수로, 노인의 우울 및 죽음불안을 매개변수로, 노인의 성공적 노화로서 자아통합감을 종속변수로 설정하고, 청주시에 거주하는 만 60세 이상의 노인들을 대상으로 설문조사하여 조사대상자들의 일반적 특성에 따른 연구변수들의 차이를 검증하고 이들 변수간의 영향관계를 분석해 봄으로써 성공적인 노후생활을 영위할 수 있도록 죽음준비 및 건강한 노후생활 교육 프로그램 개발을 위한 기초 자료를 마련하는 데 그 목적을 두고 있다. 분석결과 연구문제에 따라 첫째, 학력, 건강상태, 경제수준, 외부활동량에 따라서는 연구변수들의 차이가 유의미한 것으로 나타났다. 둘째, 노인의 정신적 죽음준비도는 성공적 노화로서의 자아통합감에 긍정적 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 한편 노인의 의례적 죽음준비도는 성공적 노화로서 자아통합감에 영향을 미치지 않는 것으로 나타났다. 셋째, 노인의 정신적 죽음준비도가 성공적 노화로서의 자아통합감에 미치는 영향을 노인의 우울 및 죽음불안이 부분 매개하는 것으로 나타났다.

In this study, death preparation was used as an independent variable, with ego integrity as successful aging used as a dependent variable while depression and death anxiety were used as mediate variables. The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences of the study variables according to the demographic characteristics of the research subjects, and to create a database for developing and improving current educational programs and welfare services to help the elderly achieve successful aging. Two hundred and eighty three elderly people above the age of sixty in Cheongju city were given standardized questionnaires, and the collected data were analyzed. The results of this study are the following. First, the differences of the study variables according to the level of education, health, economy, and social involvement of the elderly are statistically significant. Second, there exists a positive relationship between mental preparation for death and ego integrity (successful aging) while there is no such relation in case of formal preparation for death and ego integrity. Third, depression and death anxiety of the elderly partially mediate ego integrity, which leads to successful aging.

In this study, death preparation was used as an independent variable, with ego integrity as successful aging used as a dependent variable while depression and death anxiety were used as mediate variables. The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences of the study variables according to the demographic characteristics of the research subjects, and to create a database for developing and improving current educational programs and welfare services to help the elderly achieve successful aging. Two hundred and eighty three elderly people above the age of sixty in Cheongju city were given standardized questionnaires, and the collected data were analyzed. The results of this study are the following. First, the differences of the study variables according to the level of education, health, economy, and social involvement of the elderly are statistically significant. Second, there exists a positive relationship between mental preparation for death and ego integrity (successful aging) while there is no such relation in case of formal preparation for death and ego integrity. Third, depression and death anxiety of the elderly partially mediate ego integrity, which leads to successful aging.

Death Preparation, Depression and Death anxiety, Mediating Effect, Successful Aging, Ego Integrity