Evidence of an Indirect Effect of Generativity on Fear of Death Through Ego-Integrity Considering Social Desirability

Recent research has shown an indirect effect of generativity on fear of death through ego-integrity in older adults. The present paper aims at demonstrating that the indirect effect is valid even when controlling for social desirability. For that purpose, participants ( N = 260 German adults) in study 1 provided self-reports on generativity, ego-integrity, fear of death, and social desirability. Analyses confirmed the indirect effect when the tendency for socially desirable responding was statistically controlled. In study 2, participants ( N = 133 German adults) also reported on their generativity and ego-integrity. Fear of death, however, was assessed with a reaction time-based measure (i.e., the Implicit Associations Test). Again, the indirect effect could be confirmed. Taken together, the studies lend further credibility to the extant findings on the indirect effect of generativity on fear of death through ego-integrity.

Predicting Ego Integrity Using Prior Ego Development Stages for Older Adults in the Community

Background: Erikson’s ego development theory is the most accepted theory that involves eight stages of psychosocial development over an individual`s all lifespan. The result of development in prior stages will influence the later stages. The elderly were mainly characterized by the central developmental tasks: achieving ego integrity vs. despair. The harvest in the last stage will be related to the attitude of facing death in the elderly. Methods: A cross-sectional study of elderly age from 65 to 90 years old (n = 292) was carried out and investigated via the Inventory of Psychosocial Balance. Pearson correlation and path analysis were performed in order to analyze the direct and indirect effect among the first seven stages with the eighth stage. Results: We found that all the eight stages were significantly related to each other, and comparing to the previous seven stages, “the generativity stage” (r = 0.77) was the most relevant stage with “ego integrity”. In all indirect and direct effects, the seventh stage had the greatest impact on the “ego integrity stage”; the direct effect was 0.89. Conclusions: Compared to the whole lifespan, adulthood possessed a higher influence on the elderly stage. We found that all the eight stages were significantly related to each other, and comparing the first seven stages, the “generativity stage” (r = 0.77) was the most relevant stage to “ego integrity”. Conclusions: Compared to the whole lifespan, adulthood possessed a higher influence on the elderly stage.