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Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1024/1011-6877.18.2.67

Zusammenfassung: Der Artikel behandelt konzeptionelle Strukturierungen, Theoriebildung, Untersuchungsverfahren und Forschungsergebnisse zu Einstellungen gegenüber Sterben und Tod bei alten Menschen. Im Einzelnen werden die Dimensionen “Angst” und “Akzeptieren” der Einstellung gegenüber Sterben und Tod mit ihren jeweiligen Komponenten, ein umfassender und ein integrativer theoretischer Ansatz zur Erklärung der Angst vor dem Tod im höheren und hohen Lebensalter, deutschsprachige Verfahren zur Messung der Einstellungen gegenüber Sterben und Tod sowie Ergebnisse zu den Korrelaten “Alter”, “Geschlecht”, “Institutionalisierung”, “körperliche und psychische Beeinträchtigung”, “Ich-Integrität” und “Religiosität” vorgestellt. Der Beitrag schließt mit Schlussfolgerungen in sechs Punkten.


Attitudes Toward Dying and Death in the Elderly: Issues of Basic Research

Abstract: Research findings, instruments, and issues of theory building of Thanatopsychology with relevance for the elderly are presented and discussed. In detail, the present paper deals with fear of dying and death as well as acceptance of dying and death and their respective components, presents a comprehensive model and an integrative theory to explain intra- and interindividual differences in attitudes toward death, describes assessment techniques in German language, and provides an overview of the correlates “age”, “gender”, “institutionalization”, “physical and psychological problems”, and “religiosity”. Finally, six conclusions are drawn.

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