First Advisor

Tina Burdsall

Date of Award

Spring 6-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology and University Honors

Department

Psychology

Language

English

Subjects

death anxiety, existential anxiety, dispositional mindfulness, mindfulness-based intervention, end-of-life anxiety

DOI

10.15760/honors.1720

Abstract

Death anxiety, defined as the distress associated with the awareness of mortality, has profound psychological and cultural impacts. Western societies often respond to death salience through avoidance and medicalization, reinforcing defensive strategies described by Terror Management Theory. This project aimed to investigate whether mindfulness can serve as a buffer against death anxiety. A structured literature review was conducted using PsycINFO, PubMed, the Portland State University Library, and Google Scholar between January 2025 and April 2025. One study found that mindfulness moderated the effects of death anxiety on health-related quality of life in people living with HIV. Two experiments linked mindfulness to reduced negative affect and defensive reactions following mortality salience. Six additional studies conducted with cancer patients found that mindfulness-based interventions improved mood, stress, psychological flexibility, spiritual well-being, and even blood pressure, and immune and endocrine function. Psychological mechanisms such as cognitive defusion, emotional regulation, acceptance of impermanence, reduced rumination, and psychological flexibility are proposed to mediate these effects. Mindfulness offers a non-defensive framework for engaging with existential realities, aligning with existential theories such as Frankl's logotherapy and operationalized through approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Mindfulness-based interventions, including MBSR and ACT, show promise for application in hospice, palliative care, and grief contexts. While mindfulness may not eliminate death anxiety, it provides a means of experiencing existential fears with greater openness and resilience. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies, cultural generalizability, clarification of mindfulness constructs, and clinical trials specifically targeting death anxiety outcomes.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/43827

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