Death anxiety, self-worth, and exposure to human donor remains: A longitudinal study of Irish medical students

Death Stud. 2022;46(4):875-884. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2020.1783030. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between death anxiety levels at pre-exposure to human donor remains, post-exposure self-worth, and post-exposure death anxiety levels, among a sample of Irish medical students. A multi-wave prospective study was conducted, using questionnaires administered at six time-points. Path analysis was used to investigate the effect of pre-exposure death anxiety levels and post-exposure self-worth on post-exposure death anxiety levels. Baseline death anxiety was found to predict post-exposure death anxiety. Furthermore, self-worth at one month of exposure was found to mediate the relationship between pre-exposure death anxiety levels and death anxiety levels at six months.

MeSH terms

  • Anxiety
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Prospective Studies
  • Students, Medical*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires