The Effect of Coping With Stress in Predicting the Needs, Death Anxiety, and Depression of Patients’ Relatives in Intensive Care Units

Background The study aimed to examine the effects of coping with stress in predicting the needs, death anxiety, and depression of relatives of patients hospitalized in Intensive Care Units. Materials and Methods A sample of 367 relatives of patients hospitalized in intensive care units was formed, and data were collected face-to-face using a General Information Form, the Needs Scale for Patient Relatives in Intensive Care Units, Turkish Death Anxiety Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Ways of Coping with Stress Scale. The data were analyzed using numbers, percentages, means, standard deviations, Pearson Correlation, and regression analysis Results The mean total needs score of the patient relatives was found to be 123.462 ± 24.918, the mean death anxiety score was 42.653 ± 19.881, and the mean depression score was 10.500 ± 8.270. In the dimension of coping styles, the means were as follows: self-confident approach 18.954 ± 4.389, desperate approach 20.820 ± 4.306, submissive approach 15.863 ± 3.162, optimistic approach 15.093 ± 2.788, and seeking social support 9.396 ± 2.251. A positive and significant relationship was detected between death anxiety and the need score (r = 0.393, p < 0.01), and a negative and strong and significant relationship was detected between the self-confident approach and the need total score (r=-0.326, p < 0.01), and the optimistic approach and the need total score (r=-0.359, p < 0.01) and the sub-dimensions Conclusion Patients’ families have several needs. Increasing the level of needs of patients’ families leads to increased death anxiety, while decreasing self-confidence and optimistic coping strategies. This demonstrates that a holistic approach, focusing not only on the patients but also on the needs of their families, is crucial for preventing potential psychological symptoms.