Most near-death experiences involve peace and joy, but some are partially or entirely frightening or hellish. Three distinct types of distressing near-death experiences exist: one that resembles peaceful experiences but is interpreted negatively, one involving a sense of nonexistence or eternal void, and one with graphic hellish landscapes and entities. The first type may eventually become peaceful. The psychological impact of these distressing experiences can be profound and long-lasting, but their antecedents and aftereffects remain poorly understood.
Near-death experiences (NDEs) in young children are substantially similar in content to those reported by adults, according to a review of seventeen accounts including two still in childhood. This suggests that cultural conditioning—such as education, religious training, social mores, and family traditions—is not a primary determinant of NDE contents, countering the argument that NDEs are merely a culturally conditioned response to a life crisis.