Death thoughts predict increased depression for those with low self-worth. Issue 4 (21st April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fairlamb, Samuel; Juhl, Jacob
• Is Part Of: Death studies. Volume 46:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 1021
• Page End: 1026
• Publication Date: 2022-04-21
• Subjects: Death -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Terminal care -- Periodicals; Death -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Periodicals; 306.9
• DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2020.1793432
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0748-1187

Abstract

Abstract: Terror management theory specifies that a sense of self-worth is necessary to prevent the awareness of death from undermining psychological well-being. We tested the theory's claims about well-being within the context of depression, by measuring self-worth, death-thought accessibility, and depression in an online study ( N = 365). Consistent with the theory, death-thought accessibility predicted increased depression, but only among those with low, not high, self-worth. Our findings support existential clinical theorists' claims for psychological therapies to appreciate the underlying reasons for the need for self-worth.