title: Exploring fears of death and dying using network analysis

authors: Calkin, Cailen J.

subjects: Fear of death

abstract: Objective: Fear of death is often pathologised, yet little research has examined its unique links to different aspects of an individual’s life. This study investigated the unique associations among fear of death, psychological distress, mindfulness, compassion, life limiting illness, spirituality, meaning in life, and self-esteem using network analysis. It also explored the potential influence of meditation and psychedelics.

Method: A total of 486 university students and community-based participants completed a series of online surveys, which included a sociodemographic questionnaire and eight self-report rating scales. A Bayesian Gaussian Graphical Model was used to estimate nondirectional associations between variables, while a Directed Acyclic Graph depicted probabilities of directional links.

Results: The directed network revealed the central role of fear of another's death and its direct influence on other facets of death anxiety, life limiting illness, mindfulness, meaning in life, and subsequently spirituality and other variables in the network. The remaining facets of death anxiety had no significant influence on any wellbeing-related variables. This study empirically expanded upon the Terror Management Theory and found that self-esteem may not buffer death anxiety as previously proposed. Secondary analyses found that psychedelic use and meditation experience correlated with lower death anxiety, but these findings require replication due to small samples between groups.

Conclusions: These findings reframe assumptions about death anxiety by revealing its specific effects and avenues for promoting wellness surrounding mortality. In addition, they provide empirical support for Buddhist teachings, which emphasise the awakening effect of directly realising mortality. These results suggest that death anxiety could facilitate existential growth, contributing to the body of literature that highlights its potential positive effects.

text: Exploring fears of death and dying using network analysis Objective: Fear of death is often pathologised, yet little research has examined its unique links to different aspects of an individual’s life. This study investigated the unique associations among fear of death, psychological distress, mindfulness, compassion, life limiting illness, spirituality, meaning in life, and self-esteem using network analysis. It also explored the potential influence of meditation and psychedelics.

Method: A total of 486 university students and community-based participants completed a series of online surveys, which included a sociodemographic questionnaire and eight self-report rating scales. A Bayesian Gaussian Graphical Model was used to estimate nondirectional associations between variables, while a Directed Acyclic Graph depicted probabilities of directional links.

Results: The directed network revealed the central role of fear of another's death and its direct influence on other facets of death anxiety, life limiting illness, mindfulness, meaning in life, and subsequently spirituality and other variables in the network. The remaining facets of death anxiety had no significant influence on any wellbeing-related variables. This study empirically expanded upon the Terror Management Theory and found that self-esteem may not buffer death anxiety as previously proposed. Secondary analyses found that psychedelic use and meditation experience correlated with lower death anxiety, but these findings require replication due to small samples between groups.

Conclusions: These findings reframe assumptions about death anxiety by revealing its specific effects and avenues for promoting wellness surrounding mortality. In addition, they provide empirical support for Buddhist teachings, which emphasise the awakening effect of directly realising mortality. These results suggest that death anxiety could facilitate existential growth, contributing to the body of literature that highlights its potential positive effects.

year: 2024

title: Educating the deliberate professional: Preparing for future practices [Book Review]

authors: Zegwaard, Karsten E.

abstract: This book is Volume 17 of the Professional and Practice-Based Learning book series edited by Billett, Harteis, and Gruber. This Book Series aims to bring together international research on the development of professionals, organization of professional life, and educational experiences. Internationally, there is an increasing focus on work-integrated learning, workbased learning, ongoing professional development, and lifelong learning. Situated within this is the importance of deliberate and intentional approaches for engagement with learning around aspects of being a moral and ethical professional. Volume 17, Educating the Deliberate Professional: Preparing for Future Practices purposely addresses this importance.

text: Educating the deliberate professional: Preparing for future practices [Book Review] This book is Volume 17 of the Professional and Practice-Based Learning book series edited by Billett, Harteis, and Gruber. This Book Series aims to bring together international research on the development of professionals, organization of professional life, and educational experiences. Internationally, there is an increasing focus on work-integrated learning, workbased learning, ongoing professional development, and lifelong learning. Situated within this is the importance of deliberate and intentional approaches for engagement with learning around aspects of being a moral and ethical professional. Volume 17, Educating the Deliberate Professional: Preparing for Future Practices purposely addresses this importance.

year: 2016

title: An indigenous psychologies teaching and research hub : Enabling our resources, strengths and histories

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

abstract: This paper was presented as part of an informal indigenous psychologies dialogue session at the Australian Psychological Society's annual conference. In this paper, we present the concept of an indigenous psychologies teaching and research hub that reduces distance, helps students remain in community, uses resources efficiency, and has the capacity to bring indigenous psychologist and academics into closer communication.

text: An indigenous psychologies teaching and research hub : Enabling our resources, strengths and histories This paper was presented as part of an informal indigenous psychologies dialogue session at the Australian Psychological Society's annual conference. In this paper, we present the concept of an indigenous psychologies teaching and research hub that reduces distance, helps students remain in community, uses resources efficiency, and has the capacity to bring indigenous psychologist and academics into closer communication.

year: 2014