Background and purpose: Death depression is a common phenomenon among cancer patients that many factors could influence it. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the factors and finding an influencing path out of death depression.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study (April to July, 2016) was done in 497 cancer patients who were recruited from those attending Cancer Centers in Sari (Imam Khomeini Hospital) and Kerman, Iran. The patients were selected by convenience sampling. Data was collected using demographic questionnaire, death depression scale, and Pargament`s religious coping scale (the RCOPE).

Results: The mean age and death depression score of cancer patients were 48.38±15.22 and 69.92±18.40, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed economic status (β=5.37), cancer stage (β=-2.80), and religious coping behaviors (β=-0.34) as predictive variables of death depression. Path analysis revealed that economic status and cancer stage had both direct and indirect impacts on death depression but religious coping behaviors directly influenced death depression.

Conclusion: According to the model identified by path analysis, religious coping behaviors is the only variable that has a direct impact on the level of death depression which is influenced by the stage of cancer. However, economic status and stage of cancer could explain the death depression by direct and indirect influences.