The Effects of Locus of Control and Death Education on Death Attitudes

摘要

The relationship of locus of control and death education on death attitudes was examined across a population of college students. Students beginning a death education course, students finishing a death education course, and mortuary science students, completed Rotteru27s I-E scale, Hardtu27s Death Attitude Scale, and questions on personal beliefs. No significant difference of death attitude was found between the three groups, although internality was found to be significantly correlated to favorable death attitude. Statistical analysis did not support the hypothesis that death education positively affects death attitudes, however, the data do reveal that those individuals with an internal locus of control and who also received some type of death education, exhibited the most favorable attitudes toward death. No significant differences were found for sex, amount of religion, or experience of recent death. Further study is necessary.