Coping with life’s finitude: the protective role of death preparation and death acceptance amid resource loss

Yaeji Kim-Knauss and Frieder R Lang

The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 2026, vol. 81, issue 2, gbaf251.

Abstract: ObjectiveConfronting mortality is an inevitable aspect of aging. This study distinguishes two strategies older adults may employ to cope with life’s finitude: death preparation (an assimilative approach) and death acceptance (an accommodative approach). We examined whether these strategies are differently related to two well-being indicators, affect and the presence of meaning in life, particularly when individuals experience declines in resources, such as physical health deterioration and limited future time perspectives (FTP).MethodsData were drawn from the 2020 and 2023 waves of the Aging as Future online study in Germany. A total of 495 older adults (between-person level; aged 60–91 at baseline) contributed 990 observations (within-person level). We tested how death preparation and death acceptance were associated with positive/negative affect and the presence of meaning in life at both levels, and whether these associations varied depending on changes in health and FTP.ResultsBoth strategies were positively related to well-being, primarily at the between-person level. We also found significant interactions when declines in health and FTP were considered. Specifically, higher average levels of death acceptance buffered the impact of health decline on positive affect and mitigated the negative association between limited FTP and meaning in life.DiscussionOur findings suggest that death acceptance plays a critical role in supporting older adults’ emotional and existential well-being when facing health declines and limited FTP. These results extend theoretical models of self-regulation and aging by demonstrating how domain-specific acceptance of life’s finitude can foster resilience and meaning in later life.

Keywords: Self-regulation; Dual-process model; Mortality; Resilience; Future uncertainty (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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