The effects of psychosocial interventions on death anxiety: A meta-analysis and systematic review of randomised controlled trials
Abstract
Death anxiety has been proposed as a transdiagnostic construct, underlying numerous mental disorders. Although it has been argued that treatments, which reduce death anxiety, are needed, research investigating the impact of interventions on death fears has produced mixed results. As such, the current meta-analysis aimed to examine the effect of psychosocial interventions on death anxiety. Overall, results from 15 randomised controlled trials suggested that psychosocial treatments produced significant reductions in death anxiety, with a small to medium effect size (g = .45). Intervention type (death education vs. therapy) did not significantly moderate the effect of intervention on death anxiety (g = -.47). However, therapy type was a significant moderator of treatment efficacy (g = -1.39). Cognitive Behaviour Therapy was found to be particularly efficacious, producing significant reductions in death anxiety relative to control (g = 1.7), whereas other therapies did not (g = .20). The number of treatment sessions and baseline death anxiety significantly moderated intervention efficacy, whereas the duration of the intervention, training of the interventionist, and clinical nature of the sample did not. Given the small number and generally low quality of the included studies, future research using more rigorous methodology, as well as clinical samples, is needed.
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A meta-analysis identified just 15 randomised controlled trials that measured death anxiety as an outcome.
“A meta-analysis by Menzies etal. [12] identified just 15 randomised controlled trials which measured death anxiety as an outcome.”
From Stoicism and death acceptance: integrating Stoic philosophy in cognitive behaviour therapy for death anxiety (2022) · cites this paper as [12]
The identified CBT studies primarily centred on graded exposure, with a notable absence of cognitive therapy interventions for death anxiety.
“These studies also primarily centred on graded exposure (i.e., gradually and systematically facing a feared place or situation, such as a funeral home or cemetery), with a notable absence of cognitive therapy interventions for death anxiety.”
From Stoicism and death acceptance: integrating Stoic philosophy in cognitive behaviour therapy for death anxiety (2022) · cites this paper as [12]
Only five studies using CBT for death anxiety were identified in the meta-analysis, and only one was conducted within the last three decades.
“only five studies using CBT for death anxiety were identified in this meta-analysis, and of these, only one study was conducted within the last three decades.”
From Stoicism and death acceptance: integrating Stoic philosophy in cognitive behaviour therapy for death anxiety (2022) · cites this paper as [12]
CBT produced significant reductions in fears of death compared with other therapies.
“Findings revealed that CBT produced significant reductions in fears of death, in comparison to other therapies.”
From Stoicism and death acceptance: integrating Stoic philosophy in cognitive behaviour therapy for death anxiety (2022) · cites this paper as [12]
Few studies have examined treatment efficacy for death anxiety.
“few studies have examined treatment efficacy for death anxiety.”
From Stoicism and death acceptance: integrating Stoic philosophy in cognitive behaviour therapy for death anxiety (2022) · cites this paper as [12]
In a meta-analysis by Menzies et al. [12], exposure therapy (including imaginal exposure) produced significant reductions in death anxiety and outperformed other therapy modalities.
“In a meta-analysis by Menzies etal. [12] exposure therapy (including imaginal exposure) was found to produce significant reductions in death anxiety, and outperformed other therapy modalities.”
From Stoicism and death acceptance: integrating Stoic philosophy in cognitive behaviour therapy for death anxiety (2022) · cites this paper as [12]
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- Authors
- Menzies, R. E., Zuccala, M., Sharpe, L., & Dar-Nimrod, I.
- Affiliations
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Menzies, Rachel E.
- Venue
- Journal of Anxiety Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-10
- Volume
- 59
- Pages
- 64-73
- ISSN
- 0887-6185 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2894694698
- Cited by
- 140
- References
- 76
- Citations by year
- 2026: 27 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 6
- FWCI
- 1.13
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Anxiety Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Anthropology › Death, Funerary Practices, and Mourning
- Keywords
- fear of death, psychosocial interventions, cognitive behavioral therapy, death education, transdiagnostic constructs, treatment efficacy, number of treatment sessions
- MeSH terms
- Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Attitude to Death, Death, Humans, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Treatment Outcome
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