Death Anxiety and Coping Mechanism of Chinese Cancer Patients

Abstract

The present study investigated the relationship between death anxiety and defense mechanisms of Chinese cancer patients. The Chinese versions of the Bond's Defense Style Questionnaire and the Templer's Death Anxiety Questionnaire were administered to thirty cancer patients. Another thirty hand-injured patients were also chosen as control. The results showed that significantly more cancer patients had either very high or very low death anxiety levels as compared to the control group. Two immature defenses, viz. Autistic Fantasy and Passive Aggression, were more prominent among cancer patients with very high or very low death anxiety levels. These findings support the dual effect of death anxiety on patients with life-threatening illness.