Different Death Attitudes in Internalizing Symptom Context Among Norwegian and Turkish Women

The aim of the present study was to examine the association between death attitudes and depressive and anxiety symptoms among Norwegian and Turkish women. 304 participants were recruited (N_Norwegian = 127 [41.8%]; N_Turkish = 177 [58.2%]). The Beck Depression Inventory, the trait anxiety subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Death Attitude Profile-Revised were administered. The results showed that Fear of Death was positively correlated with anxiety symptoms among Turkish respondents; Approach Acceptance was negatively correlated with depressive and anxiety symptoms among Norwegian participants; and none of the death attitudes had significant negative associations with depressive and anxiety symptoms among Turkish participants. The analysis showed that Escape Acceptance was the only death attitude positively associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms for both countries. We may thus hypothesise that Escape Acceptance is the most maladaptive death attitude for both countries. Patients with this death attitude should be paid closer attention.