Beliefs Concerning Death, Dying, and Hastening Death Among Older, Functionally Impaired Dutch Adults: A One‐Year Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Beliefs about death, dying, and hastened death are stable over 1-year follow-up. Fears of death and dying are most strongly related to mental health in this community sample. Attitudes about hastening death are primarily related to religious belief and secondarily to mental health. Mental health factors may determine the distress associated with the prospect of death and dying, whereas religion may dictate the actions considered proper when dying.