Cicirelli Victor G
Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-1364, USA.
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2002 Jul;57(4):P358-66. doi: 10.1093/geronb/57.4.p358.
Terror management theory asserts that death fear (fear of annihilation) is buffered by self-esteem and beliefs in literal and symbolic immortality achieved through participation in the cultural system. The aims of this study were to determine how variables suggested by the theory were related to fear of death measures. Participants were 123 Black and 265 White elders aged 60 to 100 years; they were assessed on the Multidimensional Fear of Death Scale (MFODS), self-esteem, religiosity, locus of control, socioeconomic status, social support, and health. Regression analysis findings ( p <.05) offered partial support to the theory, with greater Fear of the Unknown (fear of annihilation) related to weaker religiosity, less social support, and greater externality; the effect of self-esteem was mediated by externality. Other predictors were related to an overall fear score based on the remaining 7 MFODS subscales. Findings are interpreted in terms of changing sources of self-esteem in old age.
恐惧管理理论认为，死亡恐惧（对毁灭的恐惧）通过自尊以及对通过参与文化系统实现的字面和象征意义上的不朽的信念得到缓冲。本研究的目的是确定该理论所提出的变量与死亡恐惧测量指标之间的关系。参与者为123名年龄在60至100岁之间的黑人老年人和265名白人老年人；他们接受了多维死亡恐惧量表（MFODS）、自尊、宗教信仰、控制点、社会经济地位、社会支持和健康状况的评估。回归分析结果（p <.05）为该理论提供了部分支持，对未知的更大恐惧（对毁灭的恐惧）与较弱的宗教信仰、较少的社会支持和更强的外部性相关；自尊的影响由外部性介导。其他预测因素与基于其余7个MFODS子量表的总体恐惧得分相关。研究结果根据老年期自尊来源的变化进行了解释。
