Impact of Hospice Volunteer Training on Death Anxiety and Locus of Control

Abstract

This investigation examined the effects of a hospice volunteer training program on locus of control and death anxiety. Experimental participants consisted of hospice volunteers who underwent an eight-week volunteer training course (N = 29) and controls who were selected from the hospice mailing list (N = 30). Results indicated both groups decreased in generalized conscious death fear, but increased in their conscious fear of others' deaths, although experimental participants did so to a somewhat greater extent. An overall decrease in several unconscious death-related fears (e.g., loss of control, overall covert death anxiety) was also observed. Training participants repressed death fears more often, relative to controls. While training seemed to sensitize participants to the uncontrollability of death, covert fears of loss of goals and achievements were lower for volunteers with training than for controls. Regardless of training, unconscious fears appeared to become conscious, as did Templer death anxiety scores (indicating a lessening of denial), with the exception of overt fear of the death of others, suggesting that hospice volunteers may continue to fear the loss of others irrespective of training.