The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of learning about deathbed visions (DBVs) on undergraduate students’ knowledge about DBVs and their levels of death anxiety. Twenty-two students were randomly assigned to a training group (received a 20-minute lecture and slides on DBVs) and 28 students served as an equivalent control (no training) group. Both groups completed a fear of death scale and a DBV knowledge questionnaire on two occasions (approximately one week before and immediately after the training group received the training). Participants in the training group experienced a significant increase in knowledge about DBVs following training compared to the no training group which showed virtually no change in knowledge about DBVs from pre- to post-test. No effect of training on participants’ levels of death anxiety was found. Suggestions for future research are offered.
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