Abstract
The study was conducted to explore how religious orientation, gender, age, psychological
health and coping style interact with levels of death anxiety and life satisfaction.
Questionnaires were administered to a convenience sample of 100 undergraduate third year
psychology students consisting of (n = 77) female and (n = 33) males. The study is a
correlational cross-sectional design. Questionnaires included the Templer/McMordie death
anxiety scale, the religious orientation scale, the Brief cope scale, the satisfaction with life
scale, the general health questionnaire. No relationship found between any of the predictors
and death anxiety, apart from gender. Females scored higher on death anxiety than males.
Additional tests reported that life satisfaction, an altering consciousness coping style and
avoidance coping had a significant relationship with being at risk of developing a stress related
illness. As life satisfaction increased the risk of developing a stress related illness decreases. Author keywords: death anxiety, religious orientation, gender, life satisfaction
