Templer's Death Anxiety Scale Research Articles

The Factors Contributing to Death Anxiety in Cancer Patients

Suffering comes in many ways for patients confronting cancer. One of these is an unspecifiable fear about death, which is an existential issue. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between death anxiety and its correlates in cancer patients. Seventy cancer patients were assessed using SCID-I, Templer's Death Anxiety Scale, the Hospital Anxiety (A) and Depression (D) Scale, the Distress Thermometer, the Visual Analogue Scale for pain (VAS), the Global Assessment of Functioning, and Glock and Stark's Dimensions of Religious Commitment scales, and these assessments were compared between cancer patients with and without death anxiety. Multiple regression analysis was conducted after correlation analysis between death anxiety and sociodemographic and clinical variables. Axis I psychiatric diagnosis, pain scores, and negative believes about what will happen after death were found to be higher in patients having death anxiety than patients not having death anxiety. Also life expectancy was perceived as shortened in patients with death anxiety. Death anxiety was associated with anxiety, depressive symptoms, and beliefs about what will happen after death. In conclusion, death anxiety could not be regarded as a natural consequence of having cancer; it is associated with the unresolved psychological and physical distress.

Propiedades psicométricas de la escala de ansiedad ante la muerte de Templer en sujetos mexicanos

<p style="text-align: justify;">La presente investigación adaptó la Escala de Ansiedad ante la Muerte de Templer (1970) al español mexicano y obtuvo sus propiedades psicométricas para dos muestras de adultos mexicanos radicados en la ciudad de México. Se entrevistaron 314 sujetos: 165 fueron adultos mayores (97 mujeres y 68 hombres con una edad media de 61.7 y 62.7 respectivamente) y 149 estudiantes universitarios (132 mujeres y 17 hombres con una edad media de 19.4 y 19.9 años). La escala de respuesta se cambió por una escala Likert de cuatro puntos. La estructura del instrumento fue evaluada mediante análisis factorial de componentes principales con rotación varimax en ambas muestras, logrando tres factores para cada grupo. La estructura factorial obtenida de las respuestas de los estudiantes universitarios sólo concordó ligeramente con lo reportado por Tomás-Sábado & Gómez-Benito (2002) en una muestra española equivalente. La consistencia interna del instrumento, medida con el alfa de Cronbach, en cada muestra indica para adultos mayores (.86) y para estudiantes (.83). Se obtuvieron propiedades psicométricas que la hacen recomendable para su uso en adultos mayores mexicanos. Finalmente, los resultados aportan nuevas evidencias sobre los efectos psicométricos derivados del posible impacto cultural de diferentes naciones de habla hispana y, entre generaciones.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Palabras clave: </strong>ansiedad, muerte, adultos mayores, estudiantes universitarios.</p>

The Effect of Health and Penal Harm on Aging Female Prisoners' Views of Dying in Prison

With tougher sentencing laws, an increasing number of individuals are finding themselves spending their final years of life in prison. Drawing on a sample of 327 women over the age of 50 incarcerated in five Southern states, the present study investigates the relationship between numerous health variables and the Templer Death Anxiety Scale (TDAS). Qualitatively, the article also provides personal accounts from inmates that serve to reinforce death fears when engaging the prison health care system. Participants reported a mean of 6.40 on the TDAS indicating a substantial degree of death anxiety when compared to community samples. Both mental and physical health measures were important indicators of death anxiety. Qualitative information discovered that respondents' concerns about dying in prison were often influenced by the perceived lack of adequate health care and the indifference of prison staff and other instances of penal harm.

P01-117 - “Death anxiety” in special and general ward's nurses

Background & aimThe thought of death can be frightening and cause anxiety. Death anxiety is a mankind experience, some profession such nursing face with it routinely and communication with dying patients is major problem of nurses that insufficient preparation to deal constructively with the process of dying and death effect on nurses productivity and patients outcomes. Aim of this preliminary study was compare of death anxiety in special and general ward's nurses.Material & methodsThis study was cross-sectional and 387 nurses (155 from general & 232 from special wards) in census method were recruited from Shariati Hospital of TUMS. Demographic information and Death anxiety (Templer's Death Anxiety Scale) were measured by self-report questionnaire then information analyzed by SPSS.ResultsResults show significant difference between mean score of Death anxiety in special (8/262/1) and general (8/302/4) ward's nurses and was correlated with some variables such as marriage (p=0/046), organizational situation (p=0/001) and the ward which nurses now worked (p=0/02). But has not significantly correlated with age, sex, shift, care of end stage patients, partnership in CPR and etc.ConclusionDeath anxiety effect physical and emotional aspects of nurse's life and so effect process of caring present by them. Results show death anxiety was higher in special ward nurses and they faced more than general ward nurses to dying and death so they need special attention to death anxiety and investigation causes of it, development of institutional support to enable nurses to provide good quality care for patients.

P01-148 - “Death anxiety” in special and general ward's nurses

ObjectiveDeath is a daily, several and important occurrence in nursing. Nurse's death anxiety is effect agent on quality of communication and caring of patients especially dying patients. Death Anxiety has excellent effect on job satisfaction and mental health of nurses. Only few studies have been done in this issue.Aim of this preliminary study was compare of death anxiety in special and general ward's nurses.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional analytical study that 387 practitioner nurses in census method were recruited from selected Hospital of TUMS 2007. The data were collected using a personal - social questionnaire and Templer Death Anxiety Scale. The data were analyzed using descriptive & inferential (Pearson, ANOVA, Regression…) statistical.ResultsResults show significant difference between mean score of Death anxiety in special (8/262/1) and general (8/302/4) ward's nurses and was correlated with some variables such as marriage statues (p< 0/04), education level (p< 0/03), organizational situation (p< 0/001) and the ward which nurses now worked (p< 0/02). But has not significantly correlated with age, sex, shift, care of end stage patients, partnership in CPR and etc.ConclusionDeath anxiety effect physical and emotional aspects of nurse's life and so effect process of caring present by them. Results show death anxiety was higher in special ward nurses and they faced more than general ward nurses to dying and death so they need special attention to death anxiety and investigation causes of it, development of institutional support to enable nurses to provide good quality care for patients.

Death Anxiety in Institutionalized and Non-Institutionalized Elderly People in Spain

To know the level of death anxiety using the Templer Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) (1970) (Ramos's Spanish adaptation, 1982)) we chose subjects older than 65 years (N = 227) to study, on one hand, the existing relation between cognitive-affective reactions toward death and the perception of the passing of time and, on the other, a group of variables which include the place of residence, age, gender, life reflection, health disorders, psychological problems, religious aspects, and socio-demographics features. To undertake this, a questionnaire was administered in which the participants answered according to their degree of agreement to several alternatives. The data indicates, by means of an analysis of variance, significant differences between these variables and death anxiety, with the exception of the religious aspects and civil state.

Cronbach Alpha Reliability and Concurrent Validity of the Collett-Lester Fear of Death Scale in a Turkish Sample

In a sample of 100 Turkish undergraduates, the Collett-Lester Fear of Death Scale had adequate interitem reliability and adequate concurrent validity with Templer's Death Anxiety Scale.

Dialogue with Donald Templer

Dr. Donald Templer is retired Professor of Clinical Psychology at Alliant International University and a consultant on Death Anxiety and thanatology. He was recognized by APA for leading the movement for research on death anxiety which extends to many countries all over the world. His Templer Death Anxiety Scale (TDAS) received acclaim since its publication in 1970. He authored five books and eleven assessment instruments. Dr. Templer's (1967) doctoral dissertation at the University of Kentucky was entitled: “Construction and Validation of a Death Anxiety Scale.” it was rated as a citation classic by Current Contents because it was way ahead of its time, and generated considerable research. He received the following awards: Diplomate in Clinical Psychology from the Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), Diplomate and Fellow of Prescribing Psychologists Register, Diplomate and Fellow in International College of Prescribing Psychologists, Fellow of American Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology, Fellow of American Academy of Clinical Psychology, Research Award given by Missouri Psychological Association in 1969, Distinguished Psychologist of the Year Award by Fresno Area Psychological Association in 1995.

Death Anxiety across the Adult Years: An Examination of Age and Gender Effects

Two studies examined death anxiety across the adult years. In the first study, 304 men and women between 18 and 87 years completed the Collett-Lester Fear of Death scale. Death anxiety peaked in both men and women during their 20s and declined significantly thereafter. However, women displayed a secondary spike during their 50s not seen in men. In the second study, 113 women between 18 and 85 years completed the Templer Death Anxiety Scale. Death anxiety displayed the same bimodal distribution and significant decline with age seen in Study 1. The results suggest that more emphasis should be placed on the cause of increased death anxiety among 20-year-olds and on why women, but not men, experience a second anxiety spike during their 50s.

A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Death Anxiety: A Brief Note

Data are reported from samples of undergraduates around the world who have been administered Templer's Death Anxiety Scale. Data from 24 American samples and from 16 nations were identified. Strong sex differences were found and an association between the scores of men and women.

Gender differences in death anxiety and religious orientation among US high school and college students

Women report both a higher death anxiety and extrinsic religiosity than men, but it is unknown why. Research has not previously linked these findings. We provide two alternative theoretical models of causal links: (a) women's higher death anxiety promotes extrinsic religiosity or (b) women's higher extrinsic religiosity promotes greater death anxiety. High school and college students in the United States (118 young men and 257 young women) completed Templer's (1970) Death Anxiety Scale and the intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity subscales of Allport and Ross’ (1967) Religious Orientation Scale. Women reported significantly higher levels of death anxiety and extrinsic religiosity. Gender differences in extrinsic religiosity were partially explainable by gender differences in death anxiety. Also, gender differences in death anxiety could partially be explained by gender differences in extrinsic religiosity. This provides future research with some direction in the link between gender, religious orientation, and death anxiety. It also underscores recent arguments that religious motivations vary between cultures and groups.

Attitude towards Euthanasia in Relation to Death Anxiety among a Sample of 343 Nurses in India

Scores on Attitude towards Euthanasia were correlated with scores on Death Anxiety among 343 female nurses in India using Templer's Death Anxiety Scale and the authors' 24-item attitude scale. No significant correlation was found between the two sets of scores (r = -.09) or a nonlinear score on relation. Age of nurses was not significantly related to Attitude towards Euthanasia (r = .07) or Death Anxiety (r = .11). As measured, death anxiety has no bearing on attitude about euthanasia.

Aging Prisoners' Concerns toward Dying in Prison

Prison populations are experiencing rapid increases and many more offenders are dying in prison. This study investigated key variables associated with death anxiety among a group of aging prisoners. For this research, 102 respondents residing in a maximum security prison with a mean age of 59 completed Templer's Death Anxiety Scale. A regression analysis showed that age, inmate social supports, and a number of health related variables were important predictors of death fear. The findings revealed that fear of death is slightly higher among older prisoners than for similar age groups in the community. Qualitative information based on personal narratives found that some inmates see death as an escape, while others expressed fears of dying in prison or the stigma associated with imprisonment.

Four Year Cross-Sectional Comparison of Death Distress among Nursing College Students

The aim of the present study was to determine the change in death distress (anxiety, depression, and obsession) among four cross-sectional samples during four years of academic study in two Arabic woman nursing colleges ( N = 570). The Templer's Death Anxiety Scale, the Arabic Scale of Death Anxiety, the Death Depression Scale-Revised, and the Death Obsession Scale were administered to students in small group sessions. It was found that the only significant difference was between freshmen and sophomores on death obsession. We tend to consider this single difference as negligible. In general, the differences between the four groups on the three scales of death anxiety and death depression were not significant. That is, no significant change in mean scores on these scales had happened over time, as a result of shifting from theoretical study courses to practical ones, including dealing with the terminally-ill patients. The main aspect to elucidate this finding was the insufficient number and hours of practicum courses in general and, in particular, the experience to deal with the critical patients was not sufficient.

ANXIETY AND DEATH ANXIETY IN EGYPTIAN AND SPANISH NURSING STUDENTS

ABSTRACT Two samples of female nursing undergraduates from Egypt (n = 132) and Spain (n = 126) responded to the Arabic Scale of Death Anxiety, the Spanish Death Anxiety Inventory, the Templer's Death Anxiety Scale, the Kuwait University Anxiety Scale, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait Subscale. Each sample answered the scales in their native language. Alpha reliabilities of the total score scales ranged from 0.65 to 0.91 (Egyptian sample) and between 0.71 and 0.90 (Spanish sample). The Spanish respondents attained significantly lower mean scores than the Egyptian sample in all the 5 scales. All the intercorrelations between these scales were statistically significant, and yielded two factors: Death Anxiety and General Anxiety in both countries. The correlations between these factors were significant, positive, and moderate, that is, 0.57 and 0.50 in the Egyptian and Spanish samples, respectively. The general conclusion is that Death Anxiety and General Anxiety are 2 different, but correlated factors.

Construction and Validation of the Death Anxiety Inventory (DAI)

Abstract. Background. Over the last 40 years the study of human attitudes toward death has attracted much scientific interest and a significant amount of research has been carried out in the English-speaking world. However, among Spanish-speaking researchers the subject has been practically ignored, as has the issue of related psychometric instruments. The aim of this study was to develop the Death Anxiety Inventory (DAI) and thus provide a valid and reliable assessment instrument for measuring death anxiety among Spanish-speaking subjects. Methods: This study examined the psychometric properties of the DAI. The DAI is a self-administered questionnaire of 20 items that can be used in either a dichotomous true/false format or on a six-point Likert scale. The properties of both scales were investigated by means of six empirical studies and several samples. Results: The scale has an α coefficient of internal consistency of 0.90 and test-retest correlation, at 4 weeks, of 0.94. The correlation with Templer's Death Anxiety Scale was 0.79. Factor analysis of the DAI identified five significant factors. Taken together these factors explained 54.60% of the total variance and were labeled as: (1) Externally generated death anxiety, (2) Meaning and acceptance of death, (3) Thoughts about death, (4) Life after death, and (5) Brevity of life. The English form of the DAI is also presented in the study in order to enable cross-cultural comparisons to be made. Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that the DAI has adequate psychometric properties that make it a valid and reliable instrument to assess death anxiety in Spanish-speaking individuals.

Note on Death Anxiety in Spain and Five Arab Countries

Comparison of scores on Templer's Death Anxiety Scale for samples of students in Spain and five Arab countries indicated that, in general, the students in Arab countries scored higher than the Spanish students. Similar results were obtained for other measures of death anxiety. Such differences may be associated with social factors including religiosity, the cultural meaning of death, and quality of life.

Effect of the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks on Death Anxiety in University Students

A sample of 440 undergraduate university students completed the Templer Death Anxiety Scale 2 wk. prior to and 2 wk. after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Women comprised 66% of the sample, and 79% of the sample identified themselves as 18 to 21 years of age and either freshmen or sophomores. There was no significant mean difference in the pre- and postterrorist attack Death Anxiety scores. Differences were found on two individual scale items.

Does War affect Death Anxiety Level? Seven Readings of Measurements (1988–2002) before and after the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait

The present study compared death anxiety level in 1988 (i.e., before the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990) and six readings in the years 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, and 2002 (i.e., after the liberation of Kuwait in 1991). The total samples for comparison were 2,221 male and female Kuwaiti volunteer undergraduates. The Arabic version of the Templer Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) was used with all groups. It was found that all the sex-related differences in the same year of the seven testing occasions were significant. For males, the mean DAS scores after the invasion in 1993, 1995, and 1996 were only significantly higher than that before the invasion. With females, there were a number of fluctuations; however, there was a significant increase of the DAS mean score directly after the invasion in comparison with that before it. By and large, the present findings support the Templer's theory regarding death anxiety as a fluid entity influenced by environmental events, particularly war-related experiences.

Existential Perspectives on Death Anxiety

Construct validity is the hallmark of Templer's Death Anxiety Scale (1970), which has generated a healthy stream of research of paramount importance in the USA and all over the world. This paper contends that scores on this scale provide valuable scientific knowledge on group norms. To expand the concept of death anxiety it is necessary to supplement empirical with qualitative research. Persons with the same scores may show qualitatively different fears of death, and vice versa. Total reliance on empirical scales may not disclose the depth of bipolar meaning in a "life-death anxiety." Templer's scale is a mixture of fears, phobias, and obsessions with thoughts of illness, cancer, heart disease, and wars. A bipolar "life-death anxiety" continuum requires phenomenology to reach beyond the 15 items to the process of "experiencing." The scale addresses "thoughts" about the death of others even though its items are cast in the first person singular. This provides group norms of a "cognitive-affective" construct, with limited generality cross-culturally. Means do not disclose fully meaningful comparisons between persons or cultures. Death Anxiety as an existential anticipatory mode of "being-in-the-world" is embedded in a personal/genetic/cultural matrix that may vary individually and culturally.