A theoretical exploration of death anxiety

Death anxiety is examined from several frameworks in an attempt to understand it better. The frameworks are grounded in existential, Freudian, cognitive-behavioural, Becker’s sociological perspective and Terror management theory. These perspectives are chosen not only because they address death anxiety, but they also provide an important range of perspectives. This theoretical exploration provides an investigation into similar strands throughout all perspectives of death anxiety and highlights any marked differences

Resilience against death anxiety in relationship to post-traumatic stress disorder and psychiatric co-morbidity

Research was conducted examining death anxiety from existential, psychodynamic, cognitive and sociological perspectives. The intent was to consider the role of death anxiety on well-being; four studies were conducted to examine how death anxiety influenced PTSD and mental health among people who have experienced a life-threatening event. These studies were conducted using undergraduate university students in Lithuania. The first study used a mixed-method design and in phase 1, participants (N=97) completed self-report questionnaires that gathered information on demographics, death anxiety, trauma and well-being. Results indicated a significant correlation between death anxiety and PTSD, but not psychiatric co-morbidity. Phase 2 attempted to further explore the phenomenological experience of participants with full PTSD, and 6 semi-structured interviews were conducted. IPA analysis found three major themes in response to the life-threatening event; self-efficacy, religious coping and existential attitude. Subsequent studies were then conducted to understand these themes as possible factors of death anxiety resilience in regards to life-threatening events. The second study (N=109) examined the role of self-efficacy and found that it was significantly related to death anxiety and psychiatric co-morbidity, but not PTSD. The third study (N=104) examined religious coping, but did not find evidence to support its significance; however again self-efficacy emerged as significantly related to psychiatric co-morbidity and death anxiety. The fourth study (N=110) looked at the role of existential attitude via posttraumatic growth and sense of coherence. Although posttraumatic growth did influence PTSD, existential attitude was not a significant factor for death anxiety or outcomes. However, self-efficacy again emerged as related to death anxiety and psychiatric co-morbidity. In studies two to four, self-efficacy did not act as a mediating factor and was independently related to death anxiety and psychiatric co-morbidity. Results were discussed in light of theories regarding death anxiety and their application to clinical treatment

Resilience against death anxiety in the face of trauma; the role of self-efficacy

Objective: Research was conducted examining how death anxiety influenced PTSD and mental health among people who have experienced a life-threatening event. The intent was to consider the role of death anxiety on well-being and consider self-efficacy as a resilience factor. Design and methods: This study was conducted using undergraduate university students in Lithuania. In this study, participants (N = 109) completed self-report questionnaires that gathered information on demographics, death anxiety, self-efficacy, trauma and well-being. Results: Self-efficacy was found to be significantly related to death anxiety and psychiatric co-morbidity, but not PTSD. In this study self-efficacy did not act as a mediating factor and was independently related to death anxiety and psychiatric co-morbidity. Results were discussed in light of literature regarding death anxiety. Conclusion: It seems that self-efficacy is related to death anxiety and wellbeing; however it interacts with these processes independently. More research is needed to understand coping mechanisms that help develop resilience against the effects of death anxiety and minimize its negative impact on mental health

Saving ecopsychology from itself; the need for scientific enquiry

The rise of environmentalism as a cultural ethos has had an impact on psychology. The field of psychology has witnessed the emergence of ecopsychology. At the foundational level, there has been significant writing that roots ecopsychology theory with transpersonal psychology. Roszak’s (1992) pioneering work The Voice of the Earth has envisioned ecopsychology as a further exploration of humans’ spiritual link with nature. Such writings have resulted in a field of study heavily influenced by New Age and Eastern mystical traditions. But as a consequence, does that put ecopsychology in the domain of spirituality rather than psychology? This paper suggests ecopsychology would be better served by rooting itself in experimental scientific psychology. Even when science is challenged as lacking depth, “Existential Experimental Psychology” (XXP) may build the bridge between the scientific methods and the need for deeper meaning. This paper concludes that the theoretical foundations for ecopsychology must move beyond philosophy and spirituality and suggests XXP as a solution to maintaining scientific rigour while not losing meaning

Death Anxiety and Well-Being; Coping With Life-Threatening Events

Research was conducted among people who have experienced trauma to see the influence of coping factors on death anxiety, PTSD, and psychiatric comorbidity. The intent was to consider the role of death anxiety in relationship to PTSD and mental health among people who have experienced a life-threatening event. It examined both self-efficacy and religious coping as possible factors of death anxiety resilience in relation to trauma. This study was conducted using undergraduate university students in Lithuania. The study (N = 104) did not find evidence to support the significance of religious coping as important factor; however, self-efficacy emerged as significantly related to psychiatric comorbidity and death anxiety. However the results found that self-efficacy did not act as a mediating factor and was independently related to death anxiety and psychiatric comorbidity. Results were discussed in light of theories regarding death anxiety and the agentic model. © The Author(s) 2013

Faith and spirituality as psychological coping mechanism among female aid workers:A qualitative study

Despite evidence that faith-based and spiritual coping supports people’s mental health, stigmata prevail in the aid sector around the need for psychological support in general and around this coping mechanism in particular. This qualitative research examines female aid workers’ experiences and aims to elucidate how this mechanism supports mental health in stressful, conflict, or disaster-affected living and working environments. Inductive thematic analysis of 14 semi-structured interviews reveals three themes around (a) specificities of the aid work context, (b) benefits and gains through this coping mechanism and related processes, and (c) potential downsides. Interview findings suggest a faith-based and spiritual approach helped interviewees feel grounded, calm, resilient, and present in difficult environments. Participants experienced a resolute identity, space for self-care, as well as access to community, belonging, and connection across national, faith, and spiritual boundaries. Results raise the importance of de-stigmatizing faith-based and spiritual coping and invite further discussion among practitioners

Room for growth:A qualitative study into the therapeutic experiences of consensually non-monogamous clients in the United Kingdom

Introduction: Previous research shows a dearth of literature relating to the therapeutic experiences of the consensually non-monogamous (CNM) population. Research Question and Aims: We aim to understand the experiences of CNM clients in mental healthcare with a view to improving services. Method: This is an online, questionnaire-based qualitative study. Participants (n = 19) were CNM individuals who had accessed mental healthcare in the UK and disclosed being a part of CNM to their practitioner. They were recruited through social media and internet forums. Some ethical considerations included the vulnerability of this population and concerns over anonymity. Thematic analysis of the data was conducted. Findings: Three main themes were identified, these were ‘stigma’, ‘pathologisation’ and ‘barriers to openness within the therapeutic alliance’. Conclusion: It is theorized that societal mononormativity impacts both clients and practitioners within mental healthcare. For clients this compounds minority stress and results in experiences of fear of disclosure in anticipation of stigma. For practitioners, this mononormativity manifests in stigmatizing assumptions and the pathologisation of CNM in clients. Taken together, this culminates in a lack of openness and damage to the therapeutic alliance. This means care is ineffective and potentially harmful. Ways of mitigating this, including education and the development of meta skills, are explored.</p