Death Attitudes and Self-reported Health- relevant Behaviors

Two studies are presented investigating the role of attitudes toward death in self- reported health-protective behavior. The Multidimensional Death Attitudes Scale (MDAS), based on three existing measures of death attitudes, was administered to a group of health professionals (N = 348). A principal components analysis revealed five factors, labeled Acceptance, Fear, Death as Passage, Death as Relief and Avoidance. The five- factor structure also was replicated in a second, somewhat different sample (N = 100). Twenty-three items loaded highly on the five factors, and the subscales showed good internal consistency. The relationship between the five death attitudes and self-reported health behaviors was explored. Acceptance of death was associated positively with physical exercise controlling for demographic and psychological variables. Accepting death but not viewing death as relief were associated with self- reported lower levels of drinking and driving.