The relationship between religious orientation, coping style, and psychological health on death anxiety and life satisfaction

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