Higher Levels Of Death Anxiety Research Articles

Association of Ageism With Death Anxiety, Self-Esteem, Interpersonal Reactivity, and Symbolic Immortality Among Nurses.

According toterror management theory (TMT), older adults may often be a reminder of death for younger adults. Therefore, dealing with older adults may be associated with increased levels of death anxiety and decreased levels of self-esteem, interpersonal reactivity, and symbolic immortality, leading younger adults to develop ageist attitudes and behaviors in defense. However, to date, these associations have not been empirically examined, especially among nurses. Self-report questionnaires were used on a sample of 163 nurses to explore the issue of ageism among nurses from the TMT perspective. The results indicated that, after controlling for sociodemographic variables, high levels of death anxiety and low levels of self-esteem, interpersonal reactivity, and symbolic immortality were associated with increased levels of ageism among nurses. Thus, the current study uses TMT to explain ageism among nurses, and the study findings may contribute to the development of psychological interventions aimed at reducing nurses' ageism.

Death anxiety and burnout in intensive care unit specialists facing the COVID-19 outbreak: The mediating role of obsession with COVID-19 and coronaphobia

The aim of the study was to examine the role of the obsession with COVID-19 thoughts and coronaphobia in the relationship of death anxiety with burnout among staff working at infectious diseases hospitals in the front-line of the fight against COVID-19. A cross-sectional online survey (N = 110) was conducted during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results showed that obsession with COVID-19 and coronaphobia mediated the relationship of death anxiety with burnout. Most of the participants reported higher levels of death anxiety compared with the general population and nurses reported higher levels of death anxiety than physicians.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Death Anxiety Among Hemodialysis Patients

Background: Hemodialysis improves renal function and increases lifetime. However, it causes a fundamental change in the whole life of patients. Many of these patients express their fears of an unacceptable life. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life and death anxiety among patients on hemodialysis and determine their personality and demographic predictors. Methods: A total of 154 participants were recruited from the hemodialysis units of hospitals in Zahedan, the southeast of Iran. The participants completed the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Scale, Revised NEO Personality Inventory, and Templar's Death Anxiety Scale. Results: In this study, 60.4% of the patients had high levels of death anxiety. About 70% of the patients had low or moderate levels of quality of life. Conclusions: Personality is an essential factor in predicting health-related quality of life and death anxiety. This result provides a better understanding of the determinants of death anxiety and HQOL.

Psychological Assessment and Management of Death Anxiety, Self-Esteem and Somatisation Among People Living with HIV/AIDS (A Case Study of Apin Clinics, In Some Selected Hospitals Across South Western,Nigeria)

The psychological problems of persons living with HIV/AIDS in Nigerian cities have not been systematically documented. This study is a pre-test and post test experimental study of the assessment and management of death anxiety, self esteem (low) and somatisation among a randomly selected sample of 160 people living with HIV/AIDS and 160 HIV seronegative people. The main objectives of the study were to determine the presence of psychological distress among persons living with HIV/AIDS and to assess the effectiveness of psychological interventions in providing relief from these distressing symptoms. The psychological intervention utilized in the study was client centred group therapy in conjunction with relaxation training. The psychological instruments used were administered to the study participants in the pre-test and post test assessments. The one-way Analysis of variance, the t-independent test and f-scheffe multiple comparison tests were used in analyzing data. The study indicates that there were significantly higher levels of death anxiety, somatisation and low self esteem among persons living with HIV/AIDS compared with HIV seronegative persons. it was observed that client centred group therapy in conjunction with relaxation training could effectively lead to reduction in death anxiety. The most prominent effect of the therapeutic intervention was observed in relation to improvement in self esteem. It was recommended that Governmental Agencies that are saddled with responsibility of giving care to the victims put into consideration the psychological treatment as hallmark to lessen the burden of the disease thus improving well being and quality of life among HIV/AIDS persons. Keywords: Death anxiety, Self-esteem, Somatisation Psychological intervention, HIV/AIDS. DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/11-2-03 Publication date: January 31 st 2021

Profiles in COVID-19: peritraumatic stress symptoms and their relation with death anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and emotion dysregulation

ABSTRACT Background: The COVID-19 pandemic might be experienced as an ongoing traumatic event and could result in peritraumatic stress symptoms. Evidence implies that individuals’ levels of death anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and difficulties in emotion regulation may contribute to their peritraumatic stress symptomatology in the aftermath of trauma exposure. Objective: The current study aimed to explore these hypotheses in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: An online survey was conducted among a convenience sample of 846 Israeli adults from April 2 to 19 April 2020. COVID-19-related stressors, death anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, difficulties in emotion regulation, and peritraumatic stress symptoms were assessed via self-report questionnaires. Results: Analyses indicated significant relations between death anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and emotion regulation difficulties, on the one hand, and peritraumatic stress symptoms, on the other. Three distinct profiles were identified. Furthermore, profile type – namely having low, medium, and high levels of death anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and emotion dysregulation – had a significant effect in explaining peritraumatic stress symptoms. Conclusions: Results suggest that during the pandemic, levels of death anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and emotion dysregulation may explain heterogeneity in individuals’ trauma-related symptomatology.

Association of Death Anxiety with Spiritual Well-Being and Religious Coping in Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This descriptive study aimed to examine the association of death anxiety with religious coping and spiritual well-being among 248 community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. The brief Arab religious coping scale, the Arabic version of the spiritual well-being Scale, and the Arabic Scale of death anxiety were used to measure religious coping, spiritual well-being, and death anxiety, respectively. The majority of the participating older adults were found to have low levels of religious coping and spiritual well-being and high levels of death anxiety. Further, in comparison to male older adults, female older adults were found to have higher levels of religious coping and lower levels of death anxiety. Moreover, in comparison to widowed older adults, married older adults were found to have higher levels of death anxiety. After controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, religious coping, and spiritual well-being were found to be significant predictors of death anxiety in older adults.

Social Support Moderates the Relationship Between Death Anxiety and Psychological Distress Among Israeli Nurses.

Based on the stress-buffering model, the current study sought to examine the moderating role of perceived social support in the association between death anxiety and psychological distress among nurses. Select variables found in previous studies to correlate with psychological distress served in the current study as covariates to control for their relationship with psychological distress among nurses. These include gender, years of professional experience, self-rated health, self-efficacy, and self-defined burnout. Structured questionnaires were administered to a sample of 795 professionally active nurses in Israel. Psychological distress was assessed by the 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), death anxiety was assessed by a single item scale designed by Abdel-Khalek, and perceived social support was assessed by the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). The research findings show that higher levels of death anxiety were associated with higher levels of psychological distress only among nurses with lower levels of perceived social support. The study indicates that in order to reduce the level of distress experienced by nurses it is important to take action to reduce their death anxiety and enhance their social support mechanisms.

Death anxiety and death acceptance in atheists and other nonbelievers

This study explores how age, certainty of belief, belief in science and gender is related to death anxiety and death acceptance. Results from a sample of atheists and other nonbelievers (N = 270) in the United States suggested that age and certainty of belief were significantly related to death anxiety and death acceptance, while belief in science was not a significant predictor. In addition, women reported higher levels of death anxiety compared to men. Implications and directions for future research in death perspectives for atheists and other nonbelievers are discussed.

Death anxiety and psychological distress post-donation in non-directed living kidney donors

The current study sought to assess death anxiety and psychological distress among kidney donors, in comparison to a control population. Seventy-eight non-directed living kidney donors were recruited through the Israeli voluntary kidney donation association. This sample was compared to 396 participants from a control population. The results revealed that non-directed living kidney donors had higher levels of death anxiety in comparison to the control population while their psychological distress was lower in comparison to the control population. The results of this study highlight the importance of relating to non-directed living kidney donors’ death anxiety.

Gender Difference in Death Anxiety among Cancer Patients

Death Anxiety is a condition that is associated with the fear of one’s own death as well as that of others (Kubler, 1969). People with high levels of death anxiety are prone to stress, depression and sometimes to the death of individuals due to the alterations occurring in the body physiology (Cella & Tross, 1987). Studies show that death anxiety among cancer patients is higher than that of normal individuals (Massie, 2004) and it may decrease their chances of survival. The aim of the present investigation is to compare death anxiety among male cancer patients and female cancer patients. 90 cancer patients (Males=40, Females=40) are selected for the study through convenient sampling. Socio demographic data sheet and Death Anxiety Scale by (Dhar, Savita & Dhar, 1998) were used to collect the data. The data was analyzed by using student t-test. The result shows that there is high death anxiety among cancer patients. It is found that there is no significant difference in death anxiety among male and female cancer patients. It is observed that Death anxiety and related symptoms are common in cancer patients and there is no significant relationship between death anxiety among male and female cancer patients. Cancer patients with increased death anxieties, should be given psychological interventions along with proper medical care to increase their chances of survival.

Death Anxiety Among New Zealanders: The Predictive Roles of Religion, Spirituality, and Family Connection.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate attitudes of New Zealanders toward death and dying. We administered an online version of Collett-Lester Fear of Death Scale and Concerns about Dying Instrument subscales to a representative sample of the New Zealand population. One thousand one people responded to the survey, where the largest age-group lay between 30 and 39 years. Respondents with strong religious beliefs showed strongest agreement to being anxious about their own death compared to those who have no religious beliefs (p = .0005). Conversely, participants with strong spiritual beliefs did not feel anxious about dying (=.0005). Participants with strong family connections believed their religion/spirituality helped them think about death compared to those with weak family connections (p > .0001). Our findings show that strong religious beliefs significantly predict higher levels of death anxiety compared to participants with strong spiritual beliefs. This is probably due to the cultural identity of those sampled.

Death Anxiety From Quality of Life and Emotional Impact of Event: A Case Study of Proximate Earwitnesses of Dana Air Crash in Nigeria.

The study investigated the traumatic impact of the Dana 2012 plane crash in Lagos, Nigeria. Using a cross-sectional survey, the roles of quality of life (QoL) and impact of event were examined against death anxiety of the proximate inhabitants of the crash site. Result showed significant influence of QoL on death anxiety, with higher QoL participants manifesting higher levels of death anxiety. However, impact of the crash event and demographic indicators such as age, sex, pilot preference, and belief-in-life after death did not influence death anxiety of participants. It can be concluded from these results that the perception of higher QoL has a profound influence on death anxiety of people reminiscing mortality reminders no matter their age, sex, beliefs, and life preferences. It is recommended that anxious death-related experiences be prevented in all spheres of life in pursuit of safety and sound mental health of the people.

Health Locus of Control, Psychosocial/Spiritual Well-Being and Death Anxiety among Advanced-Stage Cancer Patients

The disclosure of the diagnosis of cancer is a distressing and complex issue. Attributional style/health locus of control helps the patients to cope with their disease through their own will power and confidence. The present study makes an effort to find out the role of attributional style and explore the relation between different types of well-being and death anxiety across gender in order to strengthen their adaptability with disease. Study was conducted on 80 advanced-stage cancer patients identified as patients as per their medical history and diagnosis done by treating doctors of the hospital, selected from different cancer hospitals of west central India. The obtained data were analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics using Mann–Whitney U test, multiple correlation and regression analysis. Results revealed that majority of patients expressed external health locus of control with significant gender differences. Negative correlation was found between health locus of control and different types of well-being. In relation to death anxiety and health locus of control, a positive relationship was found showing that externally oriented patients had higher levels of death anxiety. Finally, it was found that internal locus of control is associated with better quality of life and those who are internally oriented are better able to cope with their illness in comparison with those who are externally oriented. Thus, there is a need to develop psychological and spiritual resilience so that they can manage their illness in a healthier way.

The Relationship Between Background Characteristics and Death Anxiety in Times of War: A Comparison Between Three Generations Arab and Jewish Families in Israel

(a) To compare the levels of death anxiety between the Jewish and Arab population in Israel after the Second Lebanon War and the Casting Lead Operation. (b) To compare the levels of death anxiety between three families' generations: elderly parents, their adult children and their adult grandchildren and (c) to learn about the relationship between background characteristics and death anxiety in times of war. The sample included 172 trios of elderly parents (ages 65 and up), their middle aged children (ages 41-64) and, their young adult children (ages 20-40) living at the northern and southern of Israel. Three quarters of the participants were Jews and the others were Arabs (including Muslims, Christians and Druze). Participants answered a self-report questioner. Death anxiety levels were measured by the Carmel and Mutran's instrument (1999). In general, the highest levels of death anxiety were found among the elderly parents (p < 0.01). Regarding the nationality and the gender variables, the highest levels of death anxiety were found among the adult Jewish daughters' group (p < 0.001). Nationality was found to be the most contributive variable for predicting death anxiety levels among the three generations; the sense of mastery was the second contributor, to predict death anxiety levels among the three generations' participants. Elderly population, Arab population and women, are at high risk to suffer from high levels of death anxiety in times of war in Israel. Special attention should be given to this population groups.

Death anxiety among New Zealanders: the predictive role of gender and marital status

ABSTRACTThe aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate attitudes of New Zealanders towards death and dying. We administered an online version of Collett–Lester Fear of Death Scale and Concerns About Dying Instrument subscales to a representative sample of the New Zealand population. In total, 1001 people responded to the survey. Women reported more anxiousness concerning their own death (p = .001) and dying at a young age (p > .001). Women also showed more agreement towards spiritual aspects of dying (p > .001). Single female respondents worry more about dying (p = .02) especially when young (p = .003). Single participants (p > .001) aged 18 and 29 (p > .001) reported higher anxiety for Items relating to the death of others especially concerning never being able to communicate with the person again. Our findings show that marital status and gender strongly predict higher levels of death anxiety among New Zealanders. This is probably due to the cultural identity of those sampled.

The relationship between internal and external resources, coping strategies, PTS and death-anxiety of elderly caregivers’ Philippine immigrants and local workers after the Gaza war

Introduction Wars are a part of the Israelis' population daily experience along the years. The immediate victims of such events, the general population, as well as the work immigrants, are at high risk of suffering distress, acute stress disorder etc. as a reaction to the traumatic events. Objective There would be a relationship between internal resources, social support, and reduction of the participants' PTS and death anxiety levels. The tendency to use problem-focused coping strategies would reduce the participants' PTS, and the death anxiety levels. Aims To examine the relationship between internal resources, social support, coping strategies and the PTS and death anxiety of Philippine immigrants in comparison to those of local workers taking care for the elderly after the Gaza War. Methods A self-reported questioner of 147 immigrants' workers and 126 Israeli' local workers was collected. The study participants agreed to undergo assessments of their PTS and death anxiety levels after the Gaza war as well as internal resources and social support. Results The study SEM design indicated that the Philippine work immigrants had experienced higher levels of PTS and death anxiety than the local workers did. Internal resources and social support were found to be associated with lower levels of PTS and higher levels of death anxiety within the entire sample. Conclusion The study emphasizes the importance of internal and external resources and coping strategies in the reduction of PTS severity while broadening an understanding of the death anxiety in the context of wars and military events.

It is not their war: the impact of military operations on Philippine migrant care workers for elderly people in Israel.

ObjectiveA majority of work immigrants from the Philippines came to Israel to fill positions involving personal and nursing care. Most of them were in Israel during the Second Lebanon War, the Cast Lead operation, and the Protective Edge Operation. These migrant care workers experienced these events no differently than did the Israeli population. The goal of this study was to examine the connections between the Philippine migrant care workers’ exposure to the military operations and the levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), death anxiety, and burnout among them.MethodsA random sample of 147 Philippine migrant care workers was recruited through four agencies that employ migrant care workers. Participants completed a self-report questionnaire.ResultsPhilippine migrant care workers reported high levels of PTSD, high levels of death anxiety, and low levels of burnout. Levels of exposure were positively associated with levels of PTSD, death anxiety, and negatively with burnout. A significant inverse relationship was found between interpersonal variables (self-esteem and sense of mastery) and the PTSD, death anxiety, and burnout levels reported by the participants.

An Exploratory Study of Death Anxiety and Trainees' Choice of Theoretical Orientation

This study investigated the association between therapist-trainees' death anxiety and their preference for "objective" (i.e., quantitative and rational) over "subjective" (i.e., experiential and symbolic) theoretical orientations. In this correlational investigation, 303 clinical psychology and counseling trainees at a Midwestern school of professional psychology completed instruments assessing their fear of personal death and their endorsement of superordinate dimensions of psychotherapy orientations. As hypothesized, trainees who reported higher levels of death anxiety displayed a stronger preference for objective over subjective orientations, a relationship that was found in post-hoc analyses to be particularly salient for male trainees. These findings suggest that trainees' death anxiety, and their attempts to control it, could influence their choice of a theoretical orientation. Potential implications for training institutions are discussed.

An Exploratory Study of Death Anxiety and Trainees' Choice of Theoretical Orientation

This study investigated the association between therapist trainees' death anxiety and their preference for "objective" (i.e., quantitative and rational) over "subjective" (i.e., experiential and symbolic) theoretical orientations. In this correlational investigation, 303 clinical psychology and counseling trainees at a Midwestern school of professional psychology completed instruments assessing their fear of personal death and their endorsement of superordinate dimensions of psychotherapy orientations. As hypothesized, trainees who reported higher levels of death anxiety displayed a stronger preference for objective over subjective orientations, a relationship that was found in post hoc analyses to be particularly salient for male trainees. These findings suggest that trainees' death anxiety, and their attempts to control it, could influence their choice of a theoretical orientation. Potential implications for training institutions are discussed.

Relatedness and Individuation Among Young Adults Born Preterm: The Role of Relationships with Parents and Death Anxiety

Preterm birth may constitute a risk factor for long-term difficulties when facing developmental tasks of relatedness and individuation in young adulthood. Since these early experiences might leave individuals more susceptible to anxiety, we examined whether relationships with parents and death anxiety mediated the associations between preterm birth and difficulties in relatedness and individuation. The sample included 57 emerging adults who were born preterm, and a paired control group that filled out questionnaires: The Perceptions of Adult Attachment Questionnaire, Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships, the death anxiety test, and projective assessment of death anxiety. Preterm young adults and their counterparts exhibited similar levels of closeness with their parents, with romantic partner, and with best friend. A different picture emerged with regard to differentiation and death anxiety. Preterm young adults exhibited higher levels of emotional reactivity and fusion with others, and higher levels of death anxiety than their counterparts. Death anxiety mediated the relations between preterm birth status and differentiation. It appears that, despite the fact that these youngsters experienced a traumatic event early in their lives, they overcame this difficult experience and were successful in maintaining closeness with close others. In contrast, the traces of the preterm birth might be more pronounced in the domain of differentiation. People who experienced separations from significant others, especially early in life, may develop high levels of death anxiety as death is experienced as the ultimate separation from a close person. Enduring death anxiety might complicate the individuation process. Gender differences that were found are in accord with previous findings. The strengths and limitations of the study as well as suggestions for future research are discussed.