People who have had near-death experiences report lasting changes in their attitudes toward life and death. A study of 63 participants, average age 46 at the start, found that these attitude changes, measured by the Life Changes Inventory, remained stable over two decades. The depth of the near-death experience, assessed with the NDE Scale, was typical of such experiences. Scores on the Life Changes Inventory showed significant shifts in attitudes at both the beginning of the study and twenty years later, with no significant change between the two time points. The persistence of these attitude changes appears to be unusual compared to other transformative experiences.
Near-death experiences (NDEs) are profound mystical events that often lead to dramatic reductions in fear of death. This research identifies specific features of NDEs that predict changes in death attitudes. Encountering mystical beings and having a life review during an NDE are the strongest predictors of reduced fear of death. Contrary to expectations, a sense of disembodiment does not correlate with changes in death attitudes. These findings may inform interventions to reduce fear of death in vulnerable populations, such as those at end-of-life, and are discussed in the context of Terror Management Theory.
Near-death experiences (NDEs) sometimes include life reviews containing apparent memories of past lifetimes with verifiable details, suggesting that consciousness may continue after bodily death. These past-life memories parallel those reported by young children who recall past lives, and some children's memories include scenes from a period between lives that resemble the realm described in NDEs. Although some children's memories contradict common beliefs about reincarnation, and the idea of reincarnation into a new Earthly body conflicts with NDE accounts of encountering deceased persons in a non-Earthly realm, these contradictions can be resolved by reconceptualizing ideas about time and which aspects of human consciousness survive death.