Gender differences in death anxiety and religious orientation among US high school and college students.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Gender differences in death anxiety and religious orientation among US high school and college students.
Authors: Pierce, John D. (AUTHOR), Cohen, Adam B. (AUTHOR), Chambers, Jacqueline A. (AUTHOR), Meade, Rachel M. (AUTHOR)
Source: Mental Health, Religion & Culture. Mar2007, Vol. 10 Issue 2, p143-150. 8p.
Subjects: High school students, College students, Sex differences (Biology), Religiousness, Fear of death, Death & psychology
Geographic Terms: United States
Abstract: Women report both a higher death anxiety and extrinsic religiosity than men, but it is unknown why. Research has not previously linked these findings. We provide two alternative theoretical models of causal links: (a) women's higher death anxiety promotes extrinsic religiosity or (b) women's higher extrinsic religiosity promotes greater death anxiety. High school and college students in the United States (118 young men and 257 young women) completed Templer's (1970) Death Anxiety Scale and the intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity subscales of Allport and Ross’ (1967) Religious Orientation Scale. Women reported significantly higher levels of death anxiety and extrinsic religiosity. Gender differences in extrinsic religiosity were partially explainable by gender differences in death anxiety. Also, gender differences in death anxiety could partially be explained by gender differences in extrinsic religiosity. This provides future research with some direction in the link between gender, religious orientation, and death anxiety. It also underscores recent arguments that religious motivations vary between cultures and groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Mental Health, Religion & Culture is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Be the first to leave a comment!
You must be logged in first