Death Concerns of Students,Employed Persons and Retired Persons

Abstract

This study investigated the death concerns of three groups, 258 participants, in different temporal phases of life. These groups, 86 participants each, were high school students, X̄ 16.3 years, persons in the work force, X̄ 42.5 years, and a retired group, X̄ 68.9 years. The fifteen question survey developed by Epstein was administered individually to each participant [1]. Non parametric analysis indicated a difference existed between the groups on eight of the fifteen items. In the retired group, concern centered around being helpless and dependent. The working group's concern was greater than the student and retired groups for both pain in dying and dying before ready. The students had greater concern over losing persons cared for, death as finality and punishment after death than did the other groups. Combined responses indicate concern over losing persons cared for, making loved ones unhappy, taking a long time to die, and being helpless and dependent are central themes to all groups. Discussions of differences and problems encountered in surveying attitudes toward death provides the basis for future research.