Relationship between identity and attitude toward death in Japanese senior citizens

This study aimed to clarify the relationship between identity development stages and attitudes towards death among Japanese senior citizens. The subjects were recruited from among approximately 500 students attending educational courses for senior citizens in Prefecture A. We collected the data by using the questionnaire and interview. The contents of questionnaire were Erikson Psychosocial Stage Inventory (EPSI) and Death Attitude Profile-Revised (DAP-R). In the interview, we represented the four developmental stages, and asked the questions from birth to the present. The collection rate was 85.4% (427 subjects). And 10 subjects participated in the interview. In relation to correlations between the EPSI sub-factors and the DAP-R subscales, there were moderately strong, negative correlations between “Integrity” and “Fear of death” and between “Integrity” and “Avoidance of death”. In relation to the subjects’ reflections on their lives, the following four categories were extracted : [Trust relationships with others], [Self-confidence regarding my own efforts], [Wanting to contribute to society], and [Let things be as they are]. These results suggested that the accomplishment of “Integrity”, which is the developmental task in the maturity stage, leads to the attitude of accepting one’s whole life. Further, we have clarified that “Integrity” promotes the acceptance of death.

内容要旨・審査要旨・論文本文の公開:
内容要旨 : LID201404221005.pdf
審査要旨 : LID201404221006.pdf
論文本文 : LID201404221007.pdf
本論文は, 著者Satomi Nakagiの学位論文として提出され, 学位審査・授与の対象となっている。