Clinical and Experimental Medical Journal
Volume/Issue:
Volume 3: Issue 2
The development and change of death image in Hungary. Differences in value judgement according to age and analysis of possible measurement methods. Is death still a taboo?
Author:
Ágnes Zana Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, H-1089, Budapest, Hungary

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Pages:
353–359
Online Publication Date:
01 Jun 2009
Publication Date:
01 Jun 2009
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/CEMED.3.2009.28577
Keywords:
fear of death; attitudes; anxiety; age groups; physicians; medical students; rites
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Abstract

The aim of our research is to examine the sociological, anthropological, and psychological aspects of attitudes towards death, respectively reviewing the various approaches as a complex system; presenting the altered death image, respectively the change tendency, analysing and interpreting the most significant anxiety generating factors according to gender, age, and occupation; validating the fear of death and attitudes towards death scales in the Hungarian population; reviewing the possibilities for interventions designed to reduce anxiety generating fear of death. According to the hypotheses of our quantitative research, women are characterised by a marked fear of death and anxiety; young people are more afraid of death; health care workers have a higher level death anxiety in comparison to other professionals due to the fact that they face the suddenness and inevitability of death on a daily basis, and this in itself is an anxiety generating factor. For the psychometric measurement of fear of death and attitudes toward death we validated, adapted and calibrated two scales measuring fear of death and attitudes towards death. According to our findings both the Neimeyer and Moore Multidimensional Fear of Death Scale and the Lester Attitude Toward Death Scale proved valid and suitable for measuring fear of death and attitudes towards death. The Hungarian version of the scales proved reliable. In accordance with our hypothesis, youth and women are characterised by higher levels of fear of death and anxiety. Our hypothesis, namely that fear of death among health care workers is higher than among the normal population, was not confirmed. Yet, contrary to a segment of preceding measurements, lower level of fear, respectively anxiety was found.

“Tell me what you really think about something you really don't want to think about”

(Hayslip and Peveto, 2005)

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  • [17]. Zana K. Hegedűs G. Szabó 2008 Changes of rituals and their effects in social connections in the Hungarian Society. Death image of the Hungarian population M. Kopp Magyar lelkiállapot 2008. Esélyteremtés és esélyegyenlőség Semmelweis Kiadó Budapest 382–389 (The Hungarian State of Mind 2008).

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Cover Clinical and Experimental Medical Journal
Clinical and Experimental Medical Journal
Print ISSN:
2060-6249
Online ISSN:
2060-968X

Clinical and Experimental Medical Journal
Language English
Size  
Year of
Foundation		 2007
Publication
Programme		 ceased
Volumes
per Year		  
Issues
per Year		  
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 2060-6249 (Print)
ISSN 2060-968X (Online)

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