A model testing on death anxiety: The role of locus of control, anxiety and death obsession

In this study death anxiety, locus of control were tested in a structural equation model along with the variables of anxiety and death obsession. In addition, the Death Obsession Scale (DOS) was adapted to Turkish culture and the validity and reliability studies of the scale were performed. The research group consisted of randomly selected students studying in different programs of a state university in 2018-2019 academic year. For factor analyzes of DOS 455 (248 female, 207 male) students; 329 (190 female, 139 male) students were reached for their discriminant validity. As a result of the reliability analyzes, the Cronbach alpha coefficient calculated for the internal consistency of DOS was .92; the test-retest reliability value was .85. The results showed that DOS was a valid and reliable measurement tool. In the second part of the research; 1.054 (504 female, 550 male) students were reached and the proposed model of death anxiety was tested with the obtained data. According to death anxiety model test; it was concluded that locus of control, anxiety and death obsession directly and significantly predict death anxiety. It was determined that anxiety variable was mediated in the relationship between locus of control and death anxiety while death obsession was mediated in the relationship between anxiety and death anxiety and this effect was statistically significant. SPSS 22.0, LISREL 8.8 statistical programs were used for data analysis. The findings were discussed in the light of the literature and suggestions were made for the researchers and psychological counselors based on these findings.