Item factor analysis of the Italian version of the Death Anxiety Scale.

The 15 items of the Italian edition of the Templer's Death Anxiety Scale (DAS) were subjected to a principal components factor analysis with a sample of 257 subjects. Three factors, selected by the scree test, were rotated using the Direct Oblimin procedure. Cronbach alpha-coefficients are reported for the scale and the factors together with their intercorrelations. The results demonstrate that the DAS is a multidimensional scale. Therefore, its utility is questioned. Suggestions are made for future research.