The Effects of Education About Deathbed Visions (DBVs) on Undergraduate Students’ Levels of Death Anxiety and Knowledge About DBVs

Abstract

Previous research has looked at the effects of education about end-of-life phenomena (EOLPs) on knowledge about EOLPs. The current study aimed to add to the literature by studying the effect of education about deathbed visions (DBVs) on knowledge about DBVs and death anxiety. A total of 51 undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory psychology class were randomly assigned to either the control or experimental condition. Participants in both conditions completed a questionnaire about death anxiety and knowledge about DBVs. Participants in the experimental condition were subsequently invited to attend a brief education session about DBVs. Finally, participants in both conditions recompleted the questionnaires. Results showed that at the post-test level, participants in the experimental condition were more knowledgeable about DBVs but did not differ in levels of death anxiety. Suggestions for future research are provided.