Date of Defense
12-11-2024 11:15 AM
Location
H1-1078
Document Type
Thesis Defense
Degree Name
Master of Science in Clinical Psychology
College
College of Medicine and Health Sciences
First Advisor
Dr. Zahir Vally
Keywords
Death anxiety, bereavement, preceding anxiety, perceived social support.
Abstract
The study explores the relationship between preceding anxiety, perceived social support, and death anxiety, particularly following bereavement. Death anxiety is a significant psychological issue, especially after the loss of a loved one, and is linked to various mental health disorders. Despite the known importance of social support in mental health, its role in mitigating death anxiety remains underexplored. This study aimed to: (1) examine how bereavement impacts death anxiety; (2) investigate whether perceived social support mediates the relationship between bereavement and death anxiety; and (3) assess the influence of preceding anxiety on death anxiety. A cross-sectional design was utilized, with 305 participants aged 18 and above, who used self-report measures including the Death Anxiety Beliefs and Behaviors Scale (DABBS), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7). Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, ANOVA, correlational, and mediation analyses. Findings showed no significant difference in death anxiety between bereaved and non-bereaved individuals. However, a positive correlation between preceding anxiety and death anxiety suggests that higher pre-existing anxiety predicts increased death anxiety post-loss. Perceived social support was not significantly linked to either variable, and did not mediate their relationship. The study highlights the role of preceding anxiety in death anxiety development, highlighting the need for early interventions, while challenging assumptions about social support’s protective role.
Included in
EXPLORING THE INTERPLAY OF LOSS, PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT, AND PRIOR ANXIETY LEVELS IN PREDICTING DEATH ANXIETY AMONG INDIVIDUALS WHO EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE
H1-1078
The study explores the relationship between preceding anxiety, perceived social support, and death anxiety, particularly following bereavement. Death anxiety is a significant psychological issue, especially after the loss of a loved one, and is linked to various mental health disorders. Despite the known importance of social support in mental health, its role in mitigating death anxiety remains underexplored. This study aimed to: (1) examine how bereavement impacts death anxiety; (2) investigate whether perceived social support mediates the relationship between bereavement and death anxiety; and (3) assess the influence of preceding anxiety on death anxiety. A cross-sectional design was utilized, with 305 participants aged 18 and above, who used self-report measures including the Death Anxiety Beliefs and Behaviors Scale (DABBS), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7). Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, ANOVA, correlational, and mediation analyses. Findings showed no significant difference in death anxiety between bereaved and non-bereaved individuals. However, a positive correlation between preceding anxiety and death anxiety suggests that higher pre-existing anxiety predicts increased death anxiety post-loss. Perceived social support was not significantly linked to either variable, and did not mediate their relationship. The study highlights the role of preceding anxiety in death anxiety development, highlighting the need for early interventions, while challenging assumptions about social support’s protective role.