Relationship of death education tothe anxiety, fear, and meaningassociated with death

Abstract

Abstract The present study compared the death anxiety and fear of death levels expressed by 29 students who had completed a death and dying course with a comparison group of 74 students. The results indicated that those enrolled in the than atology class reported significantly higher death anxiety at the end of the semester as measured by the Templer-McMordie Death Anxiety Scale (DAS), the Death Anxiety Questionnaire (DAQ), and the fear of death/dying factor of the Death Attitude Profile (DAP) scale. Than atology course participants who reported decreased death anxiety also reported that death provided more meaning than did those for whom death anxiety increased. The results suggest the different effect that a than atology course can have on individuals who purportedly share the same experience.