TY - JOUR
PY - 2018//
TI - The connection between subjective nearness-to-death and depressive symptoms: the mediating role of meaning in life
JO - Psychiatry research
A1 - Bergman, Yoav S.
A1 - Bodner, Ehud
A1 - Haber, Ye'ela
SP - 269
EP - 273
VL - 261
IS -
N2 - Depression is characterized by a wide range of emotional, cognitive, and physical symptoms. Two prominent features of depressive symptoms are a sense that life has no meaning on the one hand, and that life is not worth living on the other hand. In recent years, the subjective perception of how close one feels to his/her death has gained importance as a significant factor associated with various aspects of physical and psychological well-being. Thus, the current study examined the connection between subjective nearness-to-death, meaning in life, and depressive symptoms, and assessed whether meaning in life mediates the connection between subjective nearness-to-death and depressive symptoms. Data was collected from 268 participants between the ages of 28 and 74 (mean age = 46.75), who completed measures of subjective nearness-to-death, meaning in life, and depressive symptoms.
RESULTS yielded a significant positive connection between subjective nearness-to-death and depressive symptoms, as well as a negative connection between meaning in life and depressive symptoms. Moreover, meaning in life was found to mediate the connection between subjective nearness-to-death and depressive symptoms.
FINDINGS are discussed in light of the Terror Management Theory, and potential clinical implications are suggested.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0165-1781 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.12.078 ID - ref1 ER -