Mortality anxiety as a function of intrinsic religiosity and perceived purpose in life

Abstract

Fear of dying and death may be universal, but individuals differ in their emotional reactions to dying and death. The present study included a sample of 133 Chinese university students who were Christians. The authors tested a mediation model which posited that intrinsic religiosity, but not extrinsic religiosity, lowered anxiety toward the dying and death of self and someone close through fostering perceived purpose in life. Structural Equation Modeling results supported a partial mediating role of purpose in life. Moreover, participants were more anxious toward the dying and death of someone close than those of themselves. Discussion focuses on the protective role of intrinsic religiosity on dying and death anxiety