Page 57 - IJSA, Vol. 6, No 1, 2023

International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 6, No. 1, 2023
рrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa

Thanatophobia continue to occupy our thoughts until our last breath.
Since 1969, Colett and Lester’s research has brought While the presence of loved ones during the dying
attention to the fear of mortality in academia (Colett & process can be beneficial, learning to confront death
Lester, 1969/2012). Their study aimed to differentiate alone holds value in attaining inner peace.
between death distress and the fear of the dying process, Life entails uncertainty and choices, and the fear of death
constructing measurements for death fears. The study and uncertainties endure. Consequently, the integration
entailed 25 undergraduate females who completed a of maranassati in therapeutic practices becomes essential
questionnaire assessing different types of fear related to for addressing latent fears and living a meaningful life.
death. Results revealed that the greatest fear was Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy
associated with one’s own demise, followed by the fear The effect of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
of one’s own dying process. Interestingly, the least fear (MBCT) in alleviating death anxiety among diverse
was linked to others’ dying, indicating that personal populations has been explored in several studies.
experience has a vital influence. Despite the small sample Ghadampour et al. (2018) conducted a study involving 30
size, the study sheds light on an important and women diagnosed with coronary artery disease. They
understudied topic, paving the way for future research on used a semi-experimental design, randomly assigning
a larger scale. Newly released data from Statista (2023) participants to either an experimental or control group.
spotlights the prevalence of fear of death among a sample The experimental group received eight 2-hour sessions of
of 1,220 American respondents, with a majority (68%) MBCT training. The results showed a significant
reporting some level of fear. Notably, in a recent study decrease in death anxiety levels after the MBCT
conducted by Anālayo et al. (2022), a rigorous intervention, and these positive effects were maintained
randomized controlled trial examined the impact of during the follow-up phase.
mindfulness practices on the fear of dying and death. The In a similar vein, Nabipour et al. (2018) examined the
findings demonstrated that engaging in mindfulness and efficacy of MBCT in mitigating suicidal ideation and
contemplative practices effectively reduced the fear death anxiety in cancer patients. They selected 30 cancer
related to one's own impending death and the death of patients and divided them into experimental and control
others. More notably, these practices had the intriguing groups using a pre-test and post-test design. The
effect of both heightening the fear of experiencing others' experiment revealed a significant reduction in both
dying and fostering the cultivation of mindfulness and suicidal thoughts and death anxiety following the MBCT
self-compassion. group therapy sessions, indicating the outcome of this
Meditation Practice intervention in addressing psychological distress
Maranassati, the contemplation on death in early associated with cancer.
Buddhism, is integral to Vipassanā meditation. Gautama Moreover, Pirkalani et al. (2019) investigated the
Buddha draw attention to the benefits of mindfulness of effectiveness of MBCT in addressing depression, death
death, including peaceful living and the cessation of anxiety, and life expectancy among elderly women. They
defilements. Detailed instructions on cultivating recruited 30 elderly women from specific districts in
awareness of the dying process are found in the Tehran using a random stratified sampling method. The
Satipaṭṭhānasutta (MN 10, Trans. by Sujato, n. d.), which experimental group participated in 10 group-based
guides the four foundations of mindfulness. MBCT sessions. The results indicated a significant
Contemplating death involves reflecting on the difference in life expectancy, depression, and death
impermanence and ending of life, with corpses, anxiety scores between the experimental and control
skeletons, and bones serving as objects for groups.
contemplation. In contemporary discussions on Overall, the reviewed studies consistently illustrate the
maranassati, Allen and Catherine (2017) pay attention to efficacy of MBCT in decreasing death anxiety in
the spiritual urgency known as samvega, which facilitates individuals with chronic illnesses. The long-term effects
successful meditation on death. More than 2,600 years of MBCT beyond the intervention periods highlight its
ago, the Buddha-to-be renounced worldly comforts in his value as a sustainable therapeutic approach, offering
quest to transcend the cyclical nature of existence ongoing benefits to individuals with thanatophobia and
characterized by birth, aging, illness, and death. aiming to enhance their overall quality of life.
Presently, the continuous cycle of samsara continues to Attitudes towards Death in the Elderly
impact all sentient beings, eliciting varying degrees of Among institutionalized elderly individuals in Egypt
death-related apprehension within the human psyche. (Fadila et al., 2018), approach acceptance was identified
The dying process extends beyond external locations as the most prevalent attitude towards death, followed by
such as morgues and cemeteries, encompassing escape acceptance and fear of death. The researchers
biological and physiological changes occurring within discovered moderate correlations between different
our bodies and minds continuously. Processes like attitudes towards death and variables such as loneliness,
digestion, waste elimination, and the growth and death of life satisfaction, health status, and comorbidities.
skin cells influence our thoughts and emotions. Accordingly, they suggested to promote social
Understanding the impermanence inherent in these relationships and engage in periodic discussions about
momentary dying processes can alleviate fears related to death with elderly individuals and their families.
the final passing of the physical body. However, the With regard to therapeutic practices, narrative therapy
karmic actions we have undertaken throughout our lives (Nozari et al., 2019) has shown promise in alleviating

55