Psychological Reports, 1975, 37, 262.
@ Psychological Reports 1975
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEATH ANXIETY A N D DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES' NICHOLAS K. IAMMARINO University o f Toledo The purpose of the present research with high school students was to relate Templer's Death Anxiety Scale ( 1 , 2 ) to religion, sex, place in family, residential area (urban, suburban, or rural), and whether living with one o r two parents. The first two relationships previously have been assessed; females rather consistently have higher means o n the Death Anxiety Scale than males ( 5 , 6 ) . College students showed no relationship between Death Anxiety Scale score and religious variables ( 4 ) , but for religiously very involved persons those who are more religious tend to have lower Death Anxiety Scale scores ( 3 ) . The three other variables have apparently not previously been studied. The Death Anxiety Scale and a questionnaire assessing the other five variables were administered to 249 ninth grade students in nine different high schools in Fulton and Lucas counties in Northwestern Ohio. T h e 9 5 males had a mean score o n the Death Anxiety Scale of 5.63 and the 154 females had a mean of 7.06 ( t = 3.49, p . 0 1 ) . The means on the Death Anxiety Scale were 7.00 for the 5 8 Catholics, 6.75 for the 8 Jews, 6.14 for 8 3 Protestants, 6.34 for 7 6 "Other," and 7.13 for 24 "None" ( P = 1.10). Although there was no control for size of family, o n the Death Anxiety Scale means were 6.11 for the 72 youngest, 6.81 for the 64 oldest, and 6.81 for the 113 "other" children ( F = 1.05). The 204 students living with both parents had a mean Death Anxiety Scale score of 6.32, while the 41 living with only one parent had a mean score of 7.63 ( t = 2.43, p .05). The higher Death Anxiety Scale mean for females is consistent with the research of Templer and his associates. T h e basis for the significant higher death anxiety for the ninch graders living with only one parent is not clear from present data. However, it is consistent with the contention o f Templer, Ruff, and Franks ( 6 ) who inferred from their findings of resemblance in death anxiety of family members, that intimate interpersonal relationships may affect the degree of death anxiety. It is also congruent with the opinion of some dynamically oriented clinicians who maintain that death anxiety is derived from separation anxiety.
@ Psychological Reports 1975
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEATH ANXIETY A N D DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES' NICHOLAS K. IAMMARINO University o f Toledo The purpose of the present research with high school students was to relate Templer's Death Anxiety Scale ( 1 , 2 ) to religion, sex, place in family, residential area (urban, suburban, or rural), and whether living with one o r two parents. The first two relationships previously have been assessed; females rather consistently have higher means o n the Death Anxiety Scale than males ( 5 , 6 ) . College students showed no relationship between Death Anxiety Scale score and religious variables ( 4 ) , but for religiously very involved persons those who are more religious tend to have lower Death Anxiety Scale scores ( 3 ) . The three other variables have apparently not previously been studied. The Death Anxiety Scale and a questionnaire assessing the other five variables were administered to 249 ninth grade students in nine different high schools in Fulton and Lucas counties in Northwestern Ohio. T h e 9 5 males had a mean score o n the Death Anxiety Scale of 5.63 and the 154 females had a mean of 7.06 ( t = 3.49, p . 0 1 ) . The means on the Death Anxiety Scale were 7.00 for the 5 8 Catholics, 6.75 for the 8 Jews, 6.14 for 8 3 Protestants, 6.34 for 7 6 "Other," and 7.13 for 24 "None" ( P = 1.10). Although there was no control for size of family, o n the Death Anxiety Scale means were 6.11 for the 72 youngest, 6.81 for the 64 oldest, and 6.81 for the 113 "other" children ( F = 1.05). The 204 students living with both parents had a mean Death Anxiety Scale score of 6.32, while the 41 living with only one parent had a mean score of 7.63 ( t = 2.43, p .05). The higher Death Anxiety Scale mean for females is consistent with the research of Templer and his associates. T h e basis for the significant higher death anxiety for the ninch graders living with only one parent is not clear from present data. However, it is consistent with the contention o f Templer, Ruff, and Franks ( 6 ) who inferred from their findings of resemblance in death anxiety of family members, that intimate interpersonal relationships may affect the degree of death anxiety. It is also congruent with the opinion of some dynamically oriented clinicians who maintain that death anxiety is derived from separation anxiety.
