Death Studies
July 2, 2026
Rachel E. Menzies, Jessie Brown, Mitchell Turner et al.
The fear of death (death anxiety) is a risk factor for various mental health conditions. Death anxiety has been theorized to elicit physiological arousal and worry and is empirically associated with attachment insecurity, each of which has been linked to disrupted sleep. However, limited research has explored the relationship between death anxiety, nightmares and insomnia. We examined the...
Death Studies
February 28, 2026
Xiuxin Wang, Xiaohan Hu, Mengyao Tian et al.
In contrast to the established link between death anxiety and reduced meaning in life, this study proposes that death reflection is positively related to meaning, and examines its differentiated pathways to the presence of and search for meaning via self-transcendence and authentic-self pursuit. A cross-sectional study with 501 participants assessed the variables. Results indicated that death...
Death Studies
January 18, 2026
Hatice Gül Öztaş, Esra Sabancı Baransel, Zeynep Aktaş
This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program on stress, subjective anxiety, self-compassion, and prenatal attachment in pregnant women with perinatal loss. A total of 112 women were randomly assigned to MBSR (n = 56) or control (n = 56) groups. The MBSR program was delivered face-to-face in eight sessions over 4 weeks....
Death Studies
2025
Sam G. Moreton, Noah N T Barr, Kayla J Giese
14 citations
Research examining the potential of the psychedelic experience to alter attitudes toward death is steadily emerging. However, the specific mechanisms leading to this change are not well understood. The present study investigated the potential relationship between changes in metaphysical beliefs and changes in death anxiety following a single significant psychedelic experience. A total of 155...
Death Studies
February 2, 2023
Sam G. Moreton, Andrew F. Arena, Yolanda Foy et al.
19 citations
Research over the past several decades suggests that meaningful psychedelic experiences can engender long-term effects on subjective wellbeing. However, less research has investigated the psychological mechanisms through which these effects may emerge. In the present study, participants (N = 201) completed an online survey that retrospectively measured the acute effects of a meaningful...
Death Studies
2021
Luciano Pederzoli, Eugenia De Stefano, Patrizio Tressoldi
In this study we analyzed retrospectively a database of 44 alleged death experiences between incarnations, as reported by 36 participants during hypnotic life regression sessions with the same hypnotist. The descriptions of these experiences were evaluated using the Italian version of the Near-Death Experience Scale. A large part of the reported experiences were categorized as "Affective", with...
Death Studies
October 1, 2017
Simone Bianco, Marco Sambin, Arianna Palmieri
This study aims to investigate the processes used by individuals to integrate a near-death experience (NDE) and to discuss the use of a meaning-making component to help people who have had such experiences. A psychotherapist interviewed six individuals who reported having had a NDE. Transcripts of the interviews were coded using an interpretative phenomenological analysis. The authors...
Death Studies
February 23, 2005
Bruce Greyson
11 citations
Some persons who claim to have had near-death experiences (NDEs) fail research criteria for having had NDEs ("false positives"); others who deny having had NDEs do meet research criteria for having had NDEs ("false negatives"). The author evaluated false positive claims and false negative denials in an organization that promotes near-death research and in psychiatric outpatients. The frequency...
Death Studies
April 1, 2001
Emily Williams Kelly
53 citations
Few scientists have taken seriously the interpretation of near-death experiences (NDEs) as evidence for survival after death, even though most people having such an experience have become convinced that they will survive death and several features of NDEs are at least suggestive of survival. This article compares survival and some nonsurvival interpretations of NDEs in light of one feature...
Death Studies
November 1, 1992
Bruce Greyson
58 citations
Abstract Near-death experiences (NDEs), profound mystical or transcendental experiences occurring on the threshold of death, have been reported to reduce fear of death and death anxiety. This study compared responses to the Threat Index, a widely used measure of the threat implied by one's personal death, of (a) 135 near-death experiences, (b) 43 individuals who had come close to death but not...
Death Studies
1990
The near-death experience literature includes many accounts of adults who have had near-death experiences as adults or when they were children. The literature also reveals a few accounts of children reporting on their childhood near-death experiences. But the literature does not contain a single case of a near-death experience happening at birth, until the reporting of this case. Not only is...