This research project investigated the attitudes of bereaved individuals toward selected funeral practices. Six selected variables (three characteristics of the bereaved and three conditions of the death situation) were correlated to nineteen components of the funeral. The characteristics were sex, closeness to the deceased, and religious preference; the conditions were timing of the death, viewing at the funeral home and location of the funeral service.
In this study, closeness of relationship to the deceased emerged as a significant variable in assessing attitudes toward certain funeral practices. The intent of this article is to present and discuss the empirical data related to this variable.
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