Abstract

Introduction: Death anxiety can have many effects on behaviour. Student's dropout can be the result of student death anxiety. Death anxiety can be related to several factors in students of different countries. Aim: The present study was carried out in order to examine the factors affecting death anxiety in Iranian students. Materials and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional investigation that was carried out using simple random sampling on 500 students attending universities of Tehran in 2016. The students' demographic data were collected through a data registration form, and the extended version of Templer Death Anxiety Scale (51-item) was employed to collect data on the students' death anxiety. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Leven's test, ANOVA, and Independent t-test were employed in this study. Results: The mean score of death anxiety among the students was 21.7 +/- 7. The mean score of death anxiety was higher among the female students (22.86) than the male (20.98) students (p=0.006). The undergraduate and graduate students had the highest 21.90 (7.93) and the lowest 10.23 (4.64) levels of death and anxiety respectively. In comparison with the single students, the married ones experienced higher death anxiety (p=0.038). The results of the multiple linear regression analysis indicated that 'women' and the 'married' were the only remaining variables in the regression model that could be predictor variables. Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, many students, in different levels and majors, experienced death anxiety. There was a relationship between gender, education level, marital status, and death anxiety.