Belief in Afterlife and Death Anxiety: Correlates and Comparisons

Abstract

Previous investigations of the relationship between death anxiety and belief in afterlife have often yielded inconsistent results. In an attempt to establish a common linkage between the two variables, this study investigated key variables associated with death anxiety and belief in afterlife among a group of college students. The respondent's sex, race, educational level, family income, church membership, frequency of church attendance, and intensity of religious beliefs were employed as control variables. Results support the notion that belief in afterlife is primarily a function of religion and not, at least directly, a correlate of fear of death. While all the control variables were found to be significantly related to either death anxiety or belief in afterlife, only church attendance was found to be significantly related to both.