Attitudes toward death in Hungary using the multidimensional fear of death scale

Abstract

BackgroundThe question of what we fear when we think about death or near death conditions was divided into eight factors by Leming and Dickinson as follows: dependency, pain, isolation, the finality of death, leaving loved ones, humiliation, the afterlife, and what happens to the body after death [1]. According to Leming, we learn to fear death and dying via the socialization processes. A lot of things are responsible for the fear of death including: parents, peers, the media, educational Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the attitudes displayed towards death by the youth and their mental health in the Hungarian population and to compare the results to data published in the literature. Our goal was to examine changes in the way youth conceived death, furthermore to examine the way youth perceived their own death within a small generational comparison study. Methods: In order to measure the degree and possible dimensions of the fear of death in Hungarian young the Multidimensional Fear of Death Scale (MFODS) was used. The samples came from different socio-economic groups in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Results: The two highest anxiety factors were Fear for Significant Others and Fear of the Dying Process in all the examined groups. A significant difference in the overall fear of death was detected between the young and middle aged groups (p = 0.000) but the most characteristic difference was found between the young and older age groups. Conclusions: This study confirmed previous observations in Western type societies being the first in Hungary to use the validated MFODS method. Improvement of communication within families, opening up channels of communication about death and dying together with the use and distribution of educational materials in schools may reduce fear of death and anxiety among young people.

Differences in well-being and fear of death among female hospice employees and volunteers in Hungary

“…Our results show that volunteers' fear of death was lower than paid workers in most of the factors examined. The intensity and typical factors indicating stronger fear (such as Fear of premature death and Fear for significant others) were in line with earlier research findings and with international tendencies [3]. Previous studies [33,34] have typically measured high levels of Fear for significant others and the Fear of the dying process, similar to the results of the current study.…”

“…In accordance with this objective, in Hungary it is obligatory for every healthcare worker and volunteer to complete a 40-h basic training course, 20 h of which are based on personal experience, dealing with death, personal reflection, and awareness related to loss. During the obligatory 40h training, we assess their emotional capacity in order to select only those who are psychologically fit to take part in bedside care and who do not have to deal with loss in their current life circumstances [2][3][4].…”

Czech Adaption of the Collett–Lester Fear of Death Scale in a Sample of Nursing Students

“…Thorson and Powell (1994) reported a curvilinear trend in which death anxiety was relatively high in adolescents, peaked in middle adulthood, and was lowest in old age. Zana et al (2009) give evidence that people at the age of 15 to 25 years are more anxious and afraid of death than those over 55 years. Hasˇkovcova´(2000) discusses the so-called sequestration of death, which is typical in young people at the age of 18 to 25 years.…”

Is profession associated with fear of death?

“…A halálfélelem mértékének megállapításához a Multidimenzionális Halálfélelem Skála (MFODS) [10,11,12] magyar változatát használtuk [13,14] A belső konzisztencia-együtthatót, amely a skála egységességét, megbízhatóságát jelzi, az 1. táblázat mutatja be.…”