Persistence of Attitude Changes After Near-Death Experiences
Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease March 29, 2022 DOI: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000001521 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 63 |
| Population | People who described near-death experiences |
| Duration | Two decades between administrations |
| Topics | Near-death experience |
| Citations | 22 |
| Key findings | Attitude changes reported after near-death experiences persisted without significant change over a period of two decades. |
Abstract
Abstract The aim of this study was to compare attitude changes reported by people who described near-death experiences (NDEs) at two periods two decades apart, to ascertain whether the attitude changes persisted over time. Participants completed the Life Changes Inventory (LCI) upon entry into the study and again two decades later, and the NDE Scale to quantify depth of the experience. Sixty-three participants (mean age at entry into study, 46 ± 10 years) had scores on the NDE Scale typical of other near-death experiencers. Scores on the LCI showed significant changes in attitudes toward life and death both on entry into the study and two decades later. LCI scores showed no significant change over that period, nor was there a significant correlation between change in LCI scores and time elapsed between the two administrations. NDEs appear to be unusual in the long-term persistence of attitude changes.