Why older age predicts lower acceptance of physician-assisted suicide.

BACKGROUND

Prior research has shown that older Americans have less accepting attitudes toward the legalization of physician-assisted suicide (PAS).

OBJECTIVE

The current study tests nine explanations for why older Americans are less accepting of PAS.

DESIGN

Survey questionnaires in two settings: a small rural community and an internal medicine clinic in western Wisconsin (n = 1,311).

RESULTS

Overall, 57% of this sample supported legalization of PAS while 31% opposed and 12% were in the middle. Two of the nine factors significantly (and negatively) predicted attitudes toward PAS: religious beliefs and belief that life's transitions have value. One factor is shown to mediate the relationship between age and PAS. Older subjects' greater focus on religious beliefs was able to significantly explain their lower levels of acceptance of PAS, as compared to younger subjects.

CONCLUSION

Findings from this study support other PAS studies, which indicate that most Americans support the legalization of PAS. More importantly, it clarifies the role of age--that is, age is not important in and of itself. Rather, it is important as a predictor of religious beliefs which in turn predict negative attitudes and unique influences on the thinking of American adults concerning the legalization of PAS.