The pre'sent study compared the death anxiefy andfear ofdeath levels expressed ty 29 students who had cm@ted a death and dying course with a comparison group of 74 students. The results indicated that those enrolled in the thanatobgy class reported signajicant(y higher death anxiety at the end of the semester as measured ty the Tmpler-McMordie Death Anxiety Scab (DAS), the Death Anxiety @stionnaire (DAQ), and the fear of deathldying factor of the Death Attitude Profile (DAP) scale. Thanatobgy course participants who reported &creased death anxiety also reported that death provided m e meaning than did those for whom death anxiety increased. The results suggest the dqerent effect that a thanatolo~ course can have on individuals who purportedb share the same experience.
The relationship of death anxiety/fear to health beliefs and behaviors was examined. One hundred and three college students completed the modified Death Anxiety Scale (DAS), the Death Anxiety Questionnaire (DAQ), the Death Attitude Profile (DAP), the Health Opinion Survey (HOS), and an item asking whether the participant had visited a physician at least once a year for a routine examination. The results indicated that those scoring higher on the DAS were less likely to be actively involved in their health care. Males were found to be less likely to prefer health information and to visit the doctor for an annual routine examination than females. In addition, females with high death anxiety (DAQ) were more likely to prefer health information than males with high death anxiety. These results underscore the need to examine the relationship of gender role to health-related beliefs.
The present study examined whether the Sex of the participant, Cause of death (natural causes or suicide) and Sex of the bereaved were related to the perceived helpfulness of the behaviors and comments of support providers. After reading one of four scenarios in which a parent's cause of death and the sex of the grieving child were varied, 198 college students (112 women, 86 men) rated the helpfulness of 34 statements. Significant main effects for sex of the participant and cause of death were both found. While no significant main effect for sex of the bereaved was found, this variable did interact with sex of the participant and with cause of death for the variable of Provision of physical comfort. Significant interactions for sex of the participant x cause of death were found for the variables of Provision of physical comfort and Identification with the situation. The results underscore the value of multiple providers of support during grieving.
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