The Effects of Death Anxiety and Mode of “Case Study” Presentation on Shifts of Attitude toward Euthanasia

Abstract

The influence of death anxiety and variations in method of “case study” presentation were investigated to determine the effects on shifts of attitude toward euthanasia. College students (N = 18) were randomized to one of two experimental treatments: (I) a video tape presentation of a burn victim who was requesting that treatment be withdrawn, and (II) a written narrative of the same “case study.” All participants were administered the Collett-Lester Death Anxiety Scale [1], and a Likert-type Euthanasia Attitude Scale [2], as a pre-experimental condition approximately four weeks before exposure to the treatments. Following treatment, all participants were readministered the Euthanasia Attitude Scale. Data were analyzed by t-tests for related data to determine pre- to post-test shifts of attitude and by an ANOVA (presentations × death anxiety). There was a significant shift of attitude in the “video” group toward a more supportive posture and a significant shift toward a less supportive posture in the “written” group. There appeared to be significant differences in attitudes toward euthanasia between experimental groups and the data also suggested a significant interaction effect between presentation and death anxiety.