Take the Death Anxiety Questionnaire (scroll down). Add up your score. (Your score will be between 0 and 30.) According to Conte, Weiner, and Plutchik, the average score for most people, regardless of age, is 8.5.

1. What was your score? Was it higher or lower than the average score these researchers found? Why do you think this is so?

The DAQ identifies 4 specific aspects of death anxiety: fear of the unknown (items 1, 2, 12, 14, and 15); fear of suffering (items 3, 4, and 5); fear of loneliness (items 6 and 7); and fear of personal extinction (items 10, 11, and 13). Items 8 and 9 stand alone as other aspects of death anxiety.

1. How did you score on each of the 4 aspects? Reflect on what you learned from this exercise.

Handout 15-7

DEATH ANXIETY QUESTIONNAIRE

For each of the following items, indicate your response according to the following scale.

0 1 2

not at all somewhat very much

1. Do you worry about dying?

2. Does it bother you that you may die before you have done everything you wanted to do?

3. Do you worry that you may be very ill for a long time before you die?

4. Does it upset you to think others may see you suffering before you die?

5. Do you worry that dying may be very painful?

6. Do you worry that the persons closest to you won't be with you when you are dying?

7. Do you worry that you may be alone when you are dying?

8. Does the thought bother you that you might lose control of your mind before death?

9. Do you worry that expenses connected with your death will be a burden to other people?

10. Does it worry you that your instructions or will about your belongings may not be carried out after you die?

11. Are you afraid that you may be buried before you are really dead?

12. Does the thought of leaving loved ones behind when you die disturb you?

13. Do you worry that those you care about may not remember you after your death?

14. Does the thought worry you that with death you may be gone forever?

15. Are you worried about not knowing what to expect after death?

Source: Conte, H. R., Weiner, M. B., and Plutchik, R. (1982). Measuring death anxiety: Conceptual, psychometric,and factor-analytic aspects.