Descriptive and cognitive-perceptual examination of near-death experiences in an Argentine sample: A comparative study
Gustavo Cia, Alejandro Parra
Explore April 30, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2026.103430 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 588 |
| Population | Argentine adults who had experienced a near-death experience |
| Topics | Near-death experience |
| Keywords | Descriptive research Data collection Qualitative research Government linguistics |
| Key findings | Out-of-body experiences (87%), peace (91%), and re-evaluating life (85%) were the most common NDE features. Participants with medically diagnosed clinical death found their NDEs less disturbing when accompanied by medical and nursing care, which helped them process the experience. The authors suggest that the belief that medical services protected their lives may reframe the value of their NDEs. |
Abstract
Near-death experiences (NDEs) are lucid events that some people have suddenly experienced in the face of imminent death. Often having been declared clinically dead, they recover with memories of emotions, images, or voices after a resuscitation process. The purpose of this study is to examine an Argentine sample of NDEs and compare individuals who experienced various NDE traits that occurred under a criterion of Medically Diagnosed Clinical Death (MDCD) with those without this criterion. The study considers cognitive-perceptual, affective, paranormal, spiritual, and existential traits. In addition, we predict a positive and significant correlation between NDEs with cognitive-perceptual features, positive/negative affectivity, paranormal, and transcendent traits. Through an online survey, a sample of individuals with MDCD (N = 196) and another without MDCD (N = 392) were recruited. The most commonly found NDE characteristics were: Out-of-body experiences (87%), New realm/dimension (85%), Return to the body (81%), Re-evaluating life (85%), Intellectual improvement (81%), Anxiety/Depression (80/77%), Peace (91%), and Extrasensory Experiences (75%) were the most common. Those with MDCD found their NDEs less disturbing if they were accompanied by medical and nursing care, which often helped them to process these experiences. The conviction that their lives have been protected by medical services may reframe the value of their NDEs.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on near-death experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fantasy Proneness Correlates With the Intensity of Near-Death Experience Individuals who have experienced a near-death experience (classical or NDE-like) and... | 2018 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 228 |
| A systematic analysis of distressing near-death experience accounts Individuals who had a near-death experience and wrote down their account | 2019 | Cross-sectional study | n = 123 |
| Reduced death threat in near-death experiencers Adults who had near-death experiences, came close to death without NDE, or never came... | 1992 | Cross-sectional study | n = 290 |
| Near-Death Experiences in a Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic Population Psychiatric outpatients | 2003 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 832 |
| Near-Death States Reported in a Sample of 50 Misusers Previous ketamine misusers who reported a ketamine-related near-death experience | 2010 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 50 |
Citations 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
- Consistency of near-death experience accounts over two decades: Are reports embellished over time? Resuscitation February 8, 2007
- Posttraumatic stress symptoms following near-death experiences. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 2001
and 8 more in the library