Sex, Religion, and Risk-Taking Behavior as Correlates of Death Anxiety

The research investigates death anxiety and risk-taking behavior as personality dimensions. It is hypothesized that the greater the risk-taking behavior an individual will exhibit, the lower his death anxiety. Sex and religious affiliation, i.e., Mormon vs. non-Mormon, are investigated regarding levels of death anxiety in an attempt to clarify existing contradictory research findings. The only significant relationship found was that females have higher levels of death anxiety than males. Lack of support for the major hypothesis (r = .15) is explained by the argument that personality constellations, if they exist, hold a minimal role in the attitudes of the individuals, with greater emphasis placed on interpersonal and situational variables.