Driven toward care, avoiding the end: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between death anxiety and healthcare utilisation.

Soc Sci MedJul 28, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchPsychiatry

Rachel E Menzies, Bianca Kotoulas, Alysha Rae et al.

✦ AI-curated · Sources linked

In 30 seconds

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the relationship between death anxiety and healthcare utilization across 21,271 individuals. The analysis of 17 studies revealed a significant positive association between death anxiety and the desire for life-prolonging treatments, as well as increased contact with healthcare providers, while showing a negative association with hospice use and end-of-life communication.

Key findings

  • Death anxiety was positively associated with the desire for life-prolonging treatments.
  • Increased contact with hospitals and medical professionals was linked to higher death anxiety.
  • A negative association was found between death anxiety and hospice use.
  • The relationship was strongest in non-medical sample types.

Why it matters

Understanding the impact of death anxiety on healthcare utilization can inform psychological interventions aimed at addressing patients' fears, potentially leading to improved healthcare outcomes and more appropriate use of services.

Source

PubMed · PMID 42556304

Published in Soc Sci Med. This summary was written by xxcode from the publication's abstract and metadata. It is not peer reviewed and is not a substitute for the original article. For clinical decisions, review the original publication.

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