Exploring Fears of Death and Dying Using Network Analysis
Mindfulness June 4, 2025 Cailen J. Calkin, Nirbhay N. Singh, Oleg N. Medvedev 1 citation
Fear of death is often seen as pathological, but this study used network analysis with 486 community participants to examine its links to psychological distress, mindfulness, compassion, life-limiting illness, spirituality, meaning in life, and self-esteem. The directed network showed that fear of another's death centrally influenced other death-anxiety facets, life-limiting illness, mindfulness, and meaning in life, while other death-anxiety facets had no significant influence on wellbeing. Self-esteem did not buffer death anxiety as previously proposed. Psychedelic use and meditation correlated with lower death anxiety, though these findings require replication. The results suggest death anxiety could facilitate existential growth, supporting Buddhist teachings on mortality awareness.