Differential Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study of Death Anxiety Among Student and Elderly Populations in Manipur

The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated a global mental health crisis, with death anxiety emerging as a significant psychological outcome. This study investigates the levels and predictors of death anxiety among two distinct groups in Manipur, India: students (younger population) and the elderly (older population). A cross-sectional design was employed with a sample of 135 participants (108 students, 27 elderly; 54 males, 81 females). Death anxiety was measured using a validated scale, with scores categorized into low, average, and high levels. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and independent samples t-tests. The majority of participants (67%) reported average levels of death anxiety. Significant differences were found based on age and gender: younger respondents exhibited higher death anxiety than older respondents (t=2.336, p=0.021), and females reported significantly higher death anxiety than males (t=3.656, p<0.001). However, categorical analysis of anxiety levels across age groups showed no significant association (χ²=5.233, p=0.073). The findings highlight that younger individuals and women experienced greater death anxiety during the pandemic in Manipur. These results underscore the need for demographic-sensitive mental health interventions and policies aimed at mitigating pandemic-related psychological distress in vulnerable subgroups.