Which near-death experience features are associated with reduced fear of death?
Marieta Pehlivanova, A. Carroll, Bruce Greyson
Mortality January 27, 2022 DOI: 10.1080/13576275.2021.2017868 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Near-death experience |
| Citations | 15 |
| Key findings | Encountering mystical beings and having a life review during a near-death experience are the strongest predictors of reduced fear of death, while a sense of disembodiment is not associated with changes in death attitudes. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT Death is a common existential concern, and fear of death is widespread at subclinical levels. Near-death experiences (NDEs) are profound mystical experiences that may occur close to death, and they are usually followed by dramatic reductions in fear of death. The content of these experiences varies in each case, but NDEs tend to have common features among individuals and across cultures. While many studies using different tools to measure fear of death and death anxiety have documented their reduction after NDEs, we do not know the influence of specific NDE features on this effect. This research presents statistical correlations between features of NDEs and post-experience death attitudes, both negative and positive. We found that encountering mystical beings and having a life review during one’s NDE are the strongest predictors of reduced fear of death. Contrary to theoretical predictions, a sense of disembodiment is not associated with change in death attitudes. These findings can be used to design interventions aimed at reducing fear of death in vulnerable populations, including people at end-of-life. We also discuss these findings in the context of Terror Management Theory regarding death awareness as a motivator of human behaviour.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on near-death experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near-death experience in survivors of cardiac arrest: a prospective study in the Netherlands Cardiac patients successfully resuscitated after cardiac arrest in ten Dutch hospitals | 2001 | Prospective cohort study | n = 344 |
| Incidence and correlates of near-death experiences in a cardiac care unit Cardiac inpatients at a tertiary care center | 2003 | Observational cohort | n = 1,595 |
| Features of "near-death experience" in relation to whether or not patients were near death Patients who believed they were near death during an illness or after an injury and... | 1990 | Observational cohort | n = 58 |
| The phenomenology of near-death experiences Subjects who reported near-death experiences | 1980 | Retrospective study | n = 78 |
| Near-Death Experiences and the Temporal Lobe Individuals who reported having had a near-death experience during a life-threatening... | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 13
- Investigating the relationship between changes in metaphysical beliefs and death anxiety following a significant psychedelic experience. Death Studies 2025
- Ayahuasca-induced personal death experiences: prevalence, characteristics, and impact on attitudes toward death, life, and the environment Frontiers in Psychiatry December 19, 2023
- Near-Death Experiences: A Bibliometric and Systematic Review of Published Literature From 1977 to 2025. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying July 30, 2025
- Phenomenological memory characteristics and impact of near-death experience in critically ill survivors: Observations at discharge and after a 1-year follow-up. International journal of clinical and health psychology : IJCHP 2024
- The central clinical relevance of near-death experiences in acute care contexts: identification, prediction, and management Frontiers in Psychology July 22, 2025
and 8 more in the library
Cites 13
- Near-death experience in survivors of cardiac arrest: a prospective study in the Netherlands The Lancet December 1, 2001
- The Near-Death Experience Scale The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease June 1, 1983
- Incidence and correlates of near-death experiences in a cardiac care unit General Hospital Psychiatry July 1, 2003
- A Virtual Out-of-Body Experience Reduces Fear of Death PLoS One January 9, 2017
- Consistency of near-death experience accounts over two decades: Are reports embellished over time? Resuscitation February 8, 2007
and 8 more in the library