The Journal of Psychology
ISSN: 0022-3980 (Print) 1940-1019 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/vjrl20
The Relationship Between Fear of Death and Anxiety Jon W. Hoelter & Janice A. Hoelter To cite this article: Jon W. Hoelter & Janice A. Hoelter (1978) The Relationship Between Fear of Death and Anxiety, The Journal of Psychology, 99:2, 225-226, DOI: 10.1080/00223980.1978.9921462 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00223980.1978.9921462
Published online: 02 Jul 2010.
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Date: 05 November 2015, At: 18:09
Published as a separate and in The Journal of Psychology, 1978, 99, 225-226.
T H E RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FEAR O F DEATH AND ANXIETY* Bowling Green State University; and Wood County Mental Health Clinic, Bowling Green, Ohio
JON
W. HOELTERA N D
JANICE
A. HOELTER
Downloaded by [Deakin University Library] at 18:09 05 November 2015
SUMMARY Studies examining fear of death and anxiety have consistently shown these constructs to be positively related. Although several measures of anxiety have been examined, fear of death has always been treated unidimensionally. The present research was an attempt to examine eight types of fear of death in relation to two types of anxiety. Questionnaire data were collected from 375 male and female undergraduates at a Midwestern university. Anxiety was measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and fear of death by a factor analytic multidimensional scale. Significant correlations were found between seven of the eight fear of death dimensions and both measures of anxiety. Regression analysis showed fear of premature death and fear of the dead to be the most important deathrelated fears associated with anxiety. Although few studies have examined the relationship between anxiety and fear of death, all have found these constructs to be positively related (1, 2 , 4, 5, 6). Indeed, the results of past research make intuitive sense and are potentially important to a greater understanding of both the fear of death and anxiety constructs. The purpose of the present research was to further the examination of this relationship by taking a multidimensional approach to the measurement of fear of death. Specifically, eight types of fear of death were examined in relation to two types of anxiety. Data were collected at a Midwestern university in 1977 by means of a questionnaire. The sample included 375 undergraduates (143 males and 232 females), ranging in age from 17 to 37. Anxiety was measured by the Spielberger et al. (7) State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. A factor analytic
* Received in the Editorial Office on May 19, 1978, and published immediately at Provincetown, Massachusetts. Copyright by The Journal Press. 225
Downloaded by [Deakin University Library] at 18:09 05 November 2015
226
JOURNAL O F PSYCHOLOGY
multidimensional scale was utilized to measure fear of death (3), consisting of eight reliable Likert-type subscales: fear of the dying process, fear of premature death, fear for significant others, phobic fear of death, fear of being destroyed, fear for body after death, fear of the unknown, and fear of the dead. Results showed all of the fear of death subscales, with the exception of fear of being destroyed, to have significant positive correlations with both measures of anxiety: state anxiety and trait anxiety. Multiple correlations for the eight subscales with state and trait anxiety were .37 and .38, respectively. No significant differences were found between the two measures of anxiety in relation to the fear of death subscales. Alternative re-ordering of fear of death subscales regressed on measures of anxiety showed fear of premature death to share a significant proportion of unique variance with state anxiety (beta = .20, p < .01) and trait anxiety (beta = .16, p < .01). Fear of the dead also shared unique variance with the measures of state anxiety (beta = .lo, p < .05) and trait anxiety (beta = .15, p < .01). The present research supports previous studies showing a positive relationship between anxiety and fear of death and has delineated which types of fear of death are uniquely related to anxiety. REFEREN c ES 1.
DICKSTEIN,L. S. Death concern: Measurement and correlates. Psychol. Rep., 1972, 30,
2.
HANDAL,P. J. The relationship between subjective life expectancy, death anxiety and general anxiety. J . Clin. Psychol., 1969, 25, 39-42. HOELTER,J. W. A multidimensional fear of death scale. Paper to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, San Francisco, September,
563-571.
3.
1978.
LUCAS.R. A. A comparative study of measures of general anxiety and death anxiety among three medical groups including patient and wife. Omega, 1974, 5, 233-243. K., & CRUMET. J. An investigation of death anxiety, sense of 5 . NOGAS.C., SCHWEITZER, competence, and need for achievement. Omega, 1974, 5, 245-254. C. B. Correlational study of death anxiety, general anxiety, 6. PATTON,J. F., & FREITAG, and locus of control. Psyc-hol. Rep., 1977, 40, 51-54. 7. SPIELBERGER, C. D., CORSUCH, R. L., & LUSHENE, R. E. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Manual. Palo Alto, Calif.: Consult. Psychol. Press, 1970. 4.
Department of Sociology Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, Ohio 43403
ISSN: 0022-3980 (Print) 1940-1019 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/vjrl20
The Relationship Between Fear of Death and Anxiety Jon W. Hoelter & Janice A. Hoelter To cite this article: Jon W. Hoelter & Janice A. Hoelter (1978) The Relationship Between Fear of Death and Anxiety, The Journal of Psychology, 99:2, 225-226, DOI: 10.1080/00223980.1978.9921462 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00223980.1978.9921462
Published online: 02 Jul 2010.
Submit your article to this journal
Article views: 18
View related articles
Citing articles: 3 View citing articles
Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=vjrl20 Download by: [Deakin University Library]
Date: 05 November 2015, At: 18:09
Published as a separate and in The Journal of Psychology, 1978, 99, 225-226.
T H E RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FEAR O F DEATH AND ANXIETY* Bowling Green State University; and Wood County Mental Health Clinic, Bowling Green, Ohio
JON
W. HOELTERA N D
JANICE
A. HOELTER
Downloaded by [Deakin University Library] at 18:09 05 November 2015
SUMMARY Studies examining fear of death and anxiety have consistently shown these constructs to be positively related. Although several measures of anxiety have been examined, fear of death has always been treated unidimensionally. The present research was an attempt to examine eight types of fear of death in relation to two types of anxiety. Questionnaire data were collected from 375 male and female undergraduates at a Midwestern university. Anxiety was measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and fear of death by a factor analytic multidimensional scale. Significant correlations were found between seven of the eight fear of death dimensions and both measures of anxiety. Regression analysis showed fear of premature death and fear of the dead to be the most important deathrelated fears associated with anxiety. Although few studies have examined the relationship between anxiety and fear of death, all have found these constructs to be positively related (1, 2 , 4, 5, 6). Indeed, the results of past research make intuitive sense and are potentially important to a greater understanding of both the fear of death and anxiety constructs. The purpose of the present research was to further the examination of this relationship by taking a multidimensional approach to the measurement of fear of death. Specifically, eight types of fear of death were examined in relation to two types of anxiety. Data were collected at a Midwestern university in 1977 by means of a questionnaire. The sample included 375 undergraduates (143 males and 232 females), ranging in age from 17 to 37. Anxiety was measured by the Spielberger et al. (7) State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. A factor analytic
* Received in the Editorial Office on May 19, 1978, and published immediately at Provincetown, Massachusetts. Copyright by The Journal Press. 225
Downloaded by [Deakin University Library] at 18:09 05 November 2015
226
JOURNAL O F PSYCHOLOGY
multidimensional scale was utilized to measure fear of death (3), consisting of eight reliable Likert-type subscales: fear of the dying process, fear of premature death, fear for significant others, phobic fear of death, fear of being destroyed, fear for body after death, fear of the unknown, and fear of the dead. Results showed all of the fear of death subscales, with the exception of fear of being destroyed, to have significant positive correlations with both measures of anxiety: state anxiety and trait anxiety. Multiple correlations for the eight subscales with state and trait anxiety were .37 and .38, respectively. No significant differences were found between the two measures of anxiety in relation to the fear of death subscales. Alternative re-ordering of fear of death subscales regressed on measures of anxiety showed fear of premature death to share a significant proportion of unique variance with state anxiety (beta = .20, p < .01) and trait anxiety (beta = .16, p < .01). Fear of the dead also shared unique variance with the measures of state anxiety (beta = .lo, p < .05) and trait anxiety (beta = .15, p < .01). The present research supports previous studies showing a positive relationship between anxiety and fear of death and has delineated which types of fear of death are uniquely related to anxiety. REFEREN c ES 1.
DICKSTEIN,L. S. Death concern: Measurement and correlates. Psychol. Rep., 1972, 30,
2.
HANDAL,P. J. The relationship between subjective life expectancy, death anxiety and general anxiety. J . Clin. Psychol., 1969, 25, 39-42. HOELTER,J. W. A multidimensional fear of death scale. Paper to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, San Francisco, September,
563-571.
3.
1978.
LUCAS.R. A. A comparative study of measures of general anxiety and death anxiety among three medical groups including patient and wife. Omega, 1974, 5, 233-243. K., & CRUMET. J. An investigation of death anxiety, sense of 5 . NOGAS.C., SCHWEITZER, competence, and need for achievement. Omega, 1974, 5, 245-254. C. B. Correlational study of death anxiety, general anxiety, 6. PATTON,J. F., & FREITAG, and locus of control. Psyc-hol. Rep., 1977, 40, 51-54. 7. SPIELBERGER, C. D., CORSUCH, R. L., & LUSHENE, R. E. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Manual. Palo Alto, Calif.: Consult. Psychol. Press, 1970. 4.
Department of Sociology Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, Ohio 43403
