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Terror management theory (TMT) places death anxiety in an explanatory role in cognition, affect, and behavior, spanning mental health to cultural trends. We aimed to connect TMT to trait death anxiety, and propose an additional component: "life acknowledgement" (life awareness, lived experience connection, liveliness engagement) which yields "vitality salience" when conscious. Participants (n = 156) were randomized to mortality, neutral, or vitality salience conditions, and completed assessments of self-esteem, generalized anxiety, and death anxiety (death and dying separately). Results indicated that death anxiety was independent of demographic factors; that death anxiety was correlated with generalized anxiety (r = 0.18 and r = 0.32) and self-esteem (r = -0.35 and r = -0.38); and that salience groups did not differ on the outcome measures. We concluded that existential salience priming operates separately from trait self-report. Findings supported trends in current literature, and prompted further questions regarding TMT and vitality salience.

Terror management theory (TMT) plaees death anxiety in an explanatory role in cognition, affect. and behavior, spanning mental health to cultural trends. We aimed to connect TMT to trait death anxiety, and propose an additional component: life acknowledgement (life awareness, lived experience connection, liveliness engagement) which yields vitality salience when conscious. Participants (n = 156) were randomized to mortality, neutral, or vitality salience conditions, and completed assessments of self-esteem, generalized anxiety, and death anxiety (death and dying separately). Results indicated that death anxiety was independent of demographic factors; that death anxiety was correlated with generalized anxiety (r = .18 and r = .32) and self-esteem (r = -.35 and r = -.38): and that salience groups did not differ on the outcome measures. We concluded that existential salience priming operates separately from trait self-report. Findings supported trends in current literature, and prompted further questions regarding TMT and vitality salience. Keywords: death anxiety, terror management theory, vitality salience, mental health, life acknowledgment, Humans, as self-aware animals, possess the unique and morbid ability to foresee their eventual demise. This phenomenon of existential prospection is often referred to as death anxiety. The study of [...]

This brief report assesses the validity of applying the adolescent-based developmental assets model to emerging adults. Developmental assets are specific constructs which predict future success, including positive individual characteristics and environmental resources. The researchers developed a self-report survey based on a subset of the assets and outcome behaviors most applicable to emerging adults. Correlational analyses revealed significant relationships of moderate strength between the perceived level of developmental assets and thriving behaviors r = 0.40, p < 0.01), risky behaviors r = -0.36, p < 0.01), and academic success r = 0.28, p < 0.01). Furthermore, a path analysis yielded significant coefficients wherein assets influenced thriving, risk, and collectively, academic success. Results suggest that the developmental assets framework applies to emerging adults and warrants further investigation.

A self-report measure of service-mindedness was designed in order to fill in a gap in the literature and evaluate a potential link between spirituality and satisfaction with life. A sample of 133 undergraduate students at a Catholic university in the Mid-west completed the Service-Mindedness Scale (SMS), along with the Spiritual Involvement and Beliefs Scale (SIBS) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). The sample consisted of 45 males (33.8%) and 88 females (66.2%), whose ages ranged from 18 to 24 (M = 19.03, SD = 1.24). Results indicated that the SMS has strong internal consistency as measured by Cronbach's Alpha ([alpha] = 0.934), and that service-mindedness acts as a significant mediator between spirituality and life satisfaction (R[squared] = 0.111). Implications involve increasing service-oriented motives in Jesuit education programs to further align with spiritual goals and increase student life satisfaction. (Contains 3 tables and 1 figure.)

This brief report assesses the validity of applying the adolescent-based developmental assets model to emerging adults. Developmental assets are specific constructs which predict future success, including positive individual characteristics and [...]

A self-report measure of service-mindedness was designed in order to fill in a gap in the literature and evaluate a potential link between spirituality and satisfaction with life. A sample [...]