Development and Validation of the Communication Apprehension About Death Scale

Abstract

Two studies ( N = 621) were conducted to develop and initially validate the Communication Apprehension About Death Scale (CADS). In Study 1, 302 general public participants completed a preliminary list of 66 items. An exploratory factor analysis identified two distinct dimensions of communication apprehension about death: communication anxiety and communication avoidance. A different group of participants ( n = 319) participated in Study 2. Participants in Study 2 completed the CADS measure, a fear of death measure, and a general communication apprehension measure. Concurrent validity support was provided through the significant positive correlations between communication apprehension about death and fear of death as well as communication apprehension about death and general communication apprehension. Collectively, the results suggest that the CADS is a reliable and valid self-report measure of communication apprehension about death. We conclude with a discussion of the findings as well as future directions needed to more critically examine CADS.

Notification of Unexpected, Violent and Traumatic Death: A Systematic Review

“…A total of 13 studies have investigated some specific protocols that can be used as a reference during a death notification ( Table 2). One of the most used is the GRIEV_ING protocol (Hobgood et al, 2009(Hobgood et al, , 2013Shoenberger et al, 2013;Reed et al, 2015;Carmack and DeGroot, 2016;Karam et al, 2017;Shakeri et al, 2017). In this regard, the importance of an educational intervention, based on simulation, is highlighted for the acquisition of the skills necessary to face a death notification.…”

Communication Apprehension About Death, Religious Group Affiliation, and Religiosity: Predictors of Organ and Body Donation Decisions

“…CADS is a 12-item, two-factor (communication anxiety and communication avoidance) measure that evaluates a person's anxiety and avoidance when communicating about death. In the initial CADS study, women tended to report higher levels of communication apprehension and death anxiety than did men (Carmack & DeGroot, 2016) it has yet to be used to examine health issues directly related to death. Ryckman and colleagues (2004) theorized that demographic and cultural variables may be what impacts donation intention decisions; however, as noted above, that research is inconclusive.…”

“…Although individuals' willingness to communicate about organ donation directly impacts donation decisions (Morgan, 2004), missing from the conversation is the communication apprehension individuals may experience talking about death and dying topics, including donation. In general, individuals have high levels of communication apprehension about death (Carmack & DeGroot, 2016); to date, communication scholars have yet to examine communication apprehension about death and the impact it has on donation decisions.…”

Political Communication Apprehension: Toward Productive Political Discourse Online and Face‐to‐Face

“…Due to emotional distress, individuals with high levels of communication apprehension react by avoiding communication, withdrawing from communication, or interrupting the communication of others. Although contemporary communication theorists agree that personality traits and situational aspects influence CA, in recent years, the focus of CA research has evolved into a discussion of the emotional state of individuals and situations or topics that increase anxiety (Carmack & DeGroot, ). For instance, using the General Communication Apprehension Scale as the foundation, Carmack and DeGroot () developed the Communication Apprehension about Death Scale.…”

“…Although contemporary communication theorists agree that personality traits and situational aspects influence CA, in recent years, the focus of CA research has evolved into a discussion of the emotional state of individuals and situations or topics that increase anxiety (Carmack & DeGroot, ). For instance, using the General Communication Apprehension Scale as the foundation, Carmack and DeGroot () developed the Communication Apprehension about Death Scale. Carmack and DeGroot defined communication apprehension about death as the fear or anxiety associated with real or anticipated communication about the experience of death or dying.…”