title: Death Attitudes Among Middle-Aged Koreans: Role of End-of-Life Care Planning and Death Experiences.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine factors affecting death attitudes among middle-aged Koreans. In addition, the study explored the interaction effect between knowledge about end-of-life care planning and the experience of death of family or friends on death attitudes. The sample was obtained from a national survey with middle-aged adults in South Korea ( n = 2,026). Multivariate regression analysis revealed significant main effects and an interaction effect between knowledge about end-of-life care planning and the experience of death on death attitudes. Greater knowledge of end-of-life care planning was associated with more positive attitudes toward death; however, the effect was stronger for those who had not experienced the death of family or friends. Being older and having greater life satisfaction were also associated with more positive attitudes toward death. This study suggests that end-of-life education can help middle-aged adults embrace the final stage of life and prepare for their own death.
authors.affiliation: 1 Indiana University School of Social Work, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Michin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: 2 University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors.forename: Seunghye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: 1 Indiana University School of Social Work, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Adamek
authors.affiliation: 3 Ehwa Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mee Hye
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D001293:Attitude to Death / Q000208:ethnology*; D005190:Family / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000208:ethnology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D013727:Terminal Care
keywords: death attitudes; death experiences; end-of-life care planning; life satisfaction; middle-aged adults