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Kim and Lee: Effects of a Death Education Program on Life Satisfaction and Attitude toward Death in College Students
Original Article
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2009; 39(1): 1-9.

Published online: 28 February 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2009.39.1.1

Effects of a Death Education Program on Life Satisfaction and Attitude toward Death in College Students

Eun Hee Kim1, Eunjoo Lee2

1Doctoral Student, College of Nursing Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.

2Associate Professor, College of Nursing Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Lee, Eunjoo. Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Kyungpook National University, 101 Dongin-dong, Jung-gu, Daegu 700-422, Korea. Tel: 82-53-420-4934, Fax: 82-53-421-2758, jewelee@knu.ac.kr

Received 6 August 2008       Accepted 12 January 2009

Copyright © 2009 Korean Society of Nursing Science

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this experimental study was to examine the values of a death education program developed to improve life satisfaction and attitude toward death in college students.

Methods

The death education program was developed and then used with 22 college students for 5 weeks, once a week for 150 min. Before and after the intervention, students responded a questionnaire developed to measure life satisfaction and attitude toward death. t-test, χ2-test, and paired t-test with the SPSS program were used to analyze the data.

Results

The death education program significantly improved life satisfaction but had no statistically significant effect on attitude toward death. There was a significant difference in life satisfaction between the experimental and control groups but not in attitude toward death.

Conclusion

Based on the above results, it is apparent that the death education program has an affirmative effect on life satisfaction in college students and some impact on attitude toward death. We suggest, therefore, that the death education program should be used with all human beings to help them recognize the values of themselves and their current lives and improve their satisfaction with life.

Keywords: Death, Education, Attitude, Life, Students

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Overview of the Death Education Program
jkan-39-1-i001
Table 2
Homogeneity Test for General Characteristics between the Experimental and Control Group
jkan-39-1-i002

Exp.=experimental group, Con.=control group.

Table 3
Homogeneity Test for Life Satisfaction and Attitude toward Death between Experimental and Control Group
jkan-39-1-i003

Exp.=experimental group; Con.=control group.

Table 4
Effects of Death Education on Life Satisfaction and Attitude toward Death
jkan-39-1-i004

Exp.=experimental group; Con.=control group.

Table 5
Life Satisfaction and Attitude toward Death before and after Death Education by Groups
jkan-39-1-i005

Exp.=experimental group; Con.=control group.

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