Influences on death perceptions and social representations

Abstract

Studied social representations and the social construction of death in 45 male and 124 female university students (aged 19–37 yrs) in medicine, nursing, and biology. Data on beliefs, emotions, behaviors, images, religiosity, and other attributes associated with death were obtained using an adjective checklist and a questionnaire associated with a film about death. The results were evaluated according to gender, fields of study, and public, private, or lack of direct experience with death. An ANOVA and other statistical tests were used. Three factors associated with the social representation of death were identified: consciousness of death, beliefs and religiosity, and death of self. Implications for studying private and public contexts associated with death are discussed.