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COLLEGE STUDENTS ATTITUDES ABOUT DEATH: AN 85-YEAR COMPARISON

dc.access.optionOpen Access
dc.contributor.advisorLookabaugh, Sandra
dc.contributor.advisorTaylor, Alan
dc.contributor.authorAbbott, Karlie G
dc.contributor.departmentHuman Development and Family Science
dc.date.accessioned2021-06-04T15:35:24Z
dc.date.available2021-06-04T15:35:24Z
dc.date.created2021-05
dc.date.issued2021-05-06
dc.date.submittedMay 2021
dc.date.updated2021-06-02T16:01:26Z
dc.degree.departmentHuman Development and Family Science
dc.degree.disciplineMS-Human Dev. & Family Sci.
dc.degree.grantorEast Carolina University
dc.degree.levelMasters
dc.degree.nameM.S.
dc.description.abstractParticipants were 216 college students who attended a large university in the South Eastern United States. The present study replicated a survey first administered by Middleton (1936). Snowball sampling was used to increase sample size and diversity. Data were collected using Qualtrics, an online survey program, and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 27. Results suggest that, as compared to past studies, students enrolled in college in 2021 are thinking about death more, frequently visualizing their own death more, and report high levels or fear about death. Findings were compared to Middleton's original survey (1936), as well as replicated surveys by Lester (1970) and Lester and Becker (1993). Using the life course theory and symbolic interactionism, death attitudes can be explained by previous experiences with death, personal influences about death, historical events which shaped these students lives, and the symbols associated with death. This study modernized the original survey questions by adding additional questions regarding historical events (9/11, school shootings, COVID-19, and wars), social media influences, and influences from the current COVID-19 pandemic.
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10342/9058
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherEast Carolina University
dc.subjectlife course theory
dc.subjectCOVID-19
dc.subjectdeath attitudes
dc.subjectprevious experience
dc.subject.lcshCollege students--Mental health
dc.subject.lcshCollege students--Attitudes
dc.subject.lcshDeath--Psychological aspects
dc.subject.lcshSymbolic interactionism
dc.titleCOLLEGE STUDENTS ATTITUDES ABOUT DEATH: AN 85-YEAR COMPARISON
dc.typeMaster's Thesis
dc.type.materialtext

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