Diversity in the perceptions of the elderly in relation to death. A segmentation analysis

Objective: To analyse the self-perceptions of older people in relation to death and to relate them to socioeconomic conditions, ways of living together, the residential environment and the sociodemographic profile of such people. Methodology:A total of 213 elderly were interviewed in two locations in Galicia (Spain). A principal component analysis was carried out to identify the underlying factors in the items related to self-perceptions about death and a hierarchical cluster analysis to segment the elderly into groups related to these perceptions. Results: Elderly more worried and with greater anxiety about death, were generally women with an above average age, with a worse economic status, less training and a less dense network of family relationships. Conclusions: Our study highlights the importance of socioeconomic conditions in the different perceptions about death and offers guidelines for the implementation of social policies that benefit the living conditions of elderly (AU)