How age-of-death and mode-of-death impact perceptions of the deceased

Death Stud. 2019;43(8):489-499. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2018.1488774. Epub 2018 Oct 4.

Abstract

The goal of the current study was to explore how age-of-death (AOD) and mode-of-death MOD simultaneously influence ratings of sympathy, empathy, and tragedy toward the deceased in order to assess social value. Three hundred and fifty-eight participants, mainly undergraduates, responded to a series of vignettes that described a MOD (suicide, accident, or stroke) counterbalanced with three AODs (younger, middle-aged, and older). Overall, ratings of sympathy, empathy, and tragedy declined as AOD increased; however, the effect of AOD was not consistent across all MODs. The pattern of results suggests that death norms and perceived control of death impact the perception of the deceased.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Attitude to Death*
  • Cause of Death
  • Emotions*
  • Empathy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Social Values
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult