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A meta-analysis of the association of death anxiety with psychological distress and psychopathology

Author

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  • Elisa P. Dumitru

    (Babeș-Bolyai University
    International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health)

  • Roxana A. I. Cardoș

    (International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health
    Babeş-Bolyai University)

  • Ion Milea

    (Babeș-Bolyai University
    International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health)

  • Filippo Gambarota

    (University of Padua)

  • Gianmarco Altoè

    (University of Padua)

  • Daniel O. David

    (International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health
    Babeş-Bolyai University
    Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

  • Ioana A. Cristea

    (University of Padua)

Abstract

Death anxiety (DA), apprehension when thinking about death, has long been associated with distress. Studies have suggested that DA may transdiagnostically contribute to mental disorders. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, aiming to estimate the relationship between DA and distress or symptoms of mental disorders. The included studies reported the correlation between DA and distress or symptoms of mental disorders, across general population and clinical samples, using previously validated measures for all outcomes. PsychInfo and the Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection (via EBSCO), Embase, and Medline (via PubMed) were systematically searched up to 30 October 2023. Study quality was evaluated with the Study Quality Assessment Tools (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute). A total of 129 studies were included, reporting on 158 independent samples, for a total of 34,147 participants. Most studies were rated as poor quality. The findings indicated consistently positive associations between DA and distress outcomes (general anxiety: r = 0.42, P

Suggested Citation

  • Elisa P. Dumitru & Roxana A. I. Cardoș & Ion Milea & Filippo Gambarota & Gianmarco Altoè & Daniel O. David & Ioana A. Cristea, 2025. "A meta-analysis of the association of death anxiety with psychological distress and psychopathology," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 9(5), pages 933-943, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:9:y:2025:i:5:d:10.1038_s41562-025-02115-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-025-02115-7
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