Contact with the dead, religion, and death anxiety among older Mexican Americans

Death Stud. 2012 Nov-Dec;36(10):932-48. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2011.604468.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to see if contact with the dead is associated with lower death anxiety among older Mexican Americans. The data come from a nationwide survey of older Mexican Americans (N = 1,005). The study model specifies that (a) older Mexican Americans who have experienced contact with the dead are more likely to see the connectedness that exists among all people; (b) seeing that all people are one promotes feelings of grateful to God; (c) gratitude toward God is, in turn, associated with lower death anxiety. The findings support each of these relationships.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anxiety / ethnology*
  • Attitude to Death / ethnology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mexican Americans / ethnology*
  • Religion and Psychology*
  • United States / ethnology