The influence of death anxiety and loss history on counselors' reactions to clients with death and loss issues
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of death anxiety of novice and experienced counselors as to their subjective comfort and empathic understanding in responding to clients with death or loss issues presented in simulated counseling situations. Specifically, this study examined the variables of death anxiety, experience, and empathy in addition to counselors' subjective comfort, cognitions of discomfort, lack of response repertoire, and social inferiority. Additionally, the variables of counselor history of death and loss were examined. Death anxiety was only significant in that counselors with higher death anxiety showed more cognitions of inner perturbation for the death vignette than the loss or control vignette. However, counselors with lower death anxiety showed more cognitions of lack of response repertoire for the loss vignette. History of death and loss was significant for inner perturbation and social inferiority for the loss vignette. Counselors were found to be less comfortable with the death vignette. Finally, counselors were found to be less empathic with the client with the death issue than the loss or control vignette. Experience, however, was significant only for the variable of social inferiority.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Kelly, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Academic guidance counseling|Psychotherapy
Off-Campus Purdue Users:
To access this dissertation, please log in to our
proxy server.