Golden Research Thoughts ISSN 2231-5063

Volume-3, Issue-1, July-2013

Abstract:Death anxiety is the state in which the individual experiences apprehension, worry or fear related to death
or dying. The aim of the present research is to investigate about death anxiety among the aged. 50 samples (25 males
and 25 females)of age group above 60 years were selected on the bases of stratified random sampling in and around
Chidambaram town.TEMPLER DEATH ANXIETY SCALE was used to find their level of death anxiety.
Independent t test was used to find the significant difference regarding death anxiety. The result showed that there
is a significant difference between male and female in death anxiety.
Keyword: Death anxiety.
INTRODUCTION
The time we live in have been called the age of
anxiety but probably every age or eraof human history could
be designated on the same way. Anxiety fear and worry seem
to be permanent parts of the human condition.
Death is a powerful human concern that has been
conceptualized as a powerful motivating force behind much
creative expression and philosophic inquiry throughout the
ages.
.Death anxiety is a term used to conceptualize the
apprehension generated by death awareness (Abdel-Khalek,
2005). Humans are unique in that they must learn to live and
adapt to the consciousness of their own finiteness (Becker,
1973). Thus, a major task for cultural systems is to provide a
symbolic structure that addresses death and provides
meaning for its occurrence and a context for its
transcendence (Becker 1973; Kbler-Ross, 2002)
Death anxiety is the morbid, abnormal or persistent
fear of death or dying. The British National Health Service
defines death anxiety as a feeling of dread, apprehension or
solicitude (anxiety) when one thinks of the process of dying,
or ceasing to be or what happens after death. It is also referred
to as thanatophobia (fear of death) and necrophobia (fear of
death or the dead). Lower ego integrity, more physical
problems, and more psychological problems are predictive
of higher levels of death anxiety in elderly people. Robert
Langs distinguishes three types of death anxiety:
1.Predatory death anxiety
Predatory death anxiety is the most basic form of
death anxiety, with its origins stemming from the first
unicellular organisms' set of adaptive resources. Predatory
death anxiety arises from the fear of being harmed.
2.Predation or predator death anxiety
Predation or predator death anxiety is a form of
death anxiety that arises from an individual physically and/or
mentally harming another. This form of death anxiety is often
accompanied by unconscious guilt.
3.Existential death anxiety
Existential death anxiety is the basic knowledge
and awareness that natural life must end. It is said that
existential death anxiety directly correlates to language; that
is, language has created the basis for this type of death
anxiety through communicative and behavioral changes.
However, existential death anxiety, unlike predatory death
anxiety, does not involve episodes of psychological or
physical harm.
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
To determine whether there is any significant
difference between the aged groups on their death anxiety.
HYPOTHESIS:
There may be a significant difference in the death
anxiety among the aged males and females.
RESEARCH METHODS:
Survey research design was adopted and sample
size of the study was 50 (25 aged males and 25 aged females).
They were selected on the basis of stratified sampling
technique. Initially, 58 samples were administered and out of
them, responses of 8 samples were omitted since their data
was incomplete. Independent sample't' test was applied to
find the difference. Templar death anxiety scale was used to
find the level of death anxiety.
Description of the tool:
This scale was developed by DONALD TEMPLER
in 1961.this scale consist of 15 statements with true or false
responses. This scale was designed to measure the
respondents anxiety about death. The scale consists of
statements like I am fear dying etc. this is a scale which
contains good test and retest reliability and validity.
Psychometric characteristics of DAS show 0.87 reliability
done by attest retest method which is a similar conclusion to
templar (1970). The scales internal validity, correlation
coefficient were computed between the items of the scale and
the total DAS score. Thus all the items were significant at
0.01 while coefficient totality have an average level.
Administration
The subject was seated comfortably. Death anxiety
scale was administered by giving the following instruction.
If a statement is true or mostly true to the individual, they
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A Study On Death Anxiety Among The Aged Group
S. Suganya And P. Chandra Bose
M.phil research scholar Department of psychology Annamalai University
PhD Research scholar Department of psychology Annamalai University
were instructed to circle T. If a statement is false or mostly
false as applied to the individual, has to circle F
Scoring:
There is no right or wrong answers. The death
anxiety scale is scored by assigning a score of one to each
item correctly answer. Items are scored by summing the
items. the score range are between 0 15.
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Table 1 showing the mean, standard deviation, t value
and p value between the aged groups (males and
females) on death anxiety
DISCUSSION
Ha: There is a significant difference in the death anxiety
among males and females.
It is inferred from the above table that the mean
value (28.05) of the females is higher than the males (17.10).
This mean difference is statistically significant since the
calculated't' value is significant (p <0.01).
CONCLUSION:
Death anxiety for females was found to be higher
when compared with the males.
REFRENCES
WWW.mental health org uk/ help information / mental
heath 9 z/w/women
Langs, R. (1997). Death Anxiety and Clinical Practice.
London: Karnac Books; Langs, R. (2004). "Death anxiety
and the emotion-processing mind," Psychoanalytic
Psychology, vol. 21, no.1, 31-53; Langs, R. (2004)
Fundamentals of Adaptive Psychotherapy and Counseling.
London: Palgrave-Macmillan
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English
Language, Fourth Edition copyright 2000 by Houghton
Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton
Mifflin Company
Griffiths, M. (2007). Death Understanding and Fear of Death
in Young Children. The Journal of Clinical Child Psychology
and Psychiatry, 12 (4), 525-535.
http://www.heidegger-gesellschaft.de/
http://www.meaning.ca/
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Golden Research Thoughts ISSN 2231-5063
Volume-3, Issue-1, July-2013

GROUP

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S.D

t value

p value

FEMALES

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28.05

6.3


16.50


0.01
(significant)

MALES

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17.10

5.02