Kontakt X:X | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2025.062

Social and emotional determinants of death anxiety in the context of health careNursing - Original article

Norbert Domonkos ORCID...^{1, 2, *}, Kornélia Helembai ORCID...³, István Vingender^{1, 4}

¹ Semmelweis University, Doctoral College, Health Sciences Division, Budapest, Hungary

² University of Szeged, Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Studies, Department of Nursing, Szeged, Hungary

³ University of Szeged (Professor Emerita), Szeged, Hungary

⁴ Semmelweis University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Social Sciences, Budapest, Hungary

Introduction: Health care professionals (HCPs) often meet terminal patients in the course of their work, which potentially poses psychological and existential challenges. The identification of individual and social factors associated with fear of death (FoD) is crucial for prevention.

Objective: The objective of the study was to explore the psychological and social variables related to FoD levels among HCPs.

Methods: In a quantitative, cross-sectional study, the Multidimensional Fear of Death Scale was applied (N = 500). Data were analysed with Mann-Whitney, Spearman's, and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

Results: The mean FoD score was 129.76 points. There was no significant difference in MFODS scores between religious and non-religious participants (U = 30349.50; p = 0.632), and no significant correlation between working conditions and MFODS scores (ρ = 0.071; p = 0.114). However, there was a significant negative correlation between psychological strain and the FoD score (ρ = -0.301; p < 0.001). Fear levels differed significantly according to the extent of communication about death (H = 29.46; p < 0.001).

Conclusion: FoD is mainly influenced by emotional strain and communication opportunities, while religiosity and working conditions alone have no significant effect on its level. Psychological support related to the terminal stage and promoting open communication about death may serve as important protective factors for HCPs.

Keywords: Communication; Emotional strain; Fear of death; Religion; Working conditions

Conflicts of interest:

The authors hereby declare that they have no conflict of interest concerning the research.

Received: June 25, 2025; Revised: October 18, 2025; Accepted: December 5, 2025; Prepublished online: December 18, 2025