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On April 29, 2021, during an Ultra-Orthodox annual communal event in Meron, a crowd rush resulted in the deaths of 45 individuals. Experiencing such events may intensify death proximity (subjective nearness to death, SNtD) and death anxiety, and increase distress. Furthermore, the experience of grief following the trauma may disrupt defense mechanisms that reduce death-related anxieties. Thus, we examined the mediating role of death anxiety on the association between SNtD and distress, and the possible moderating role of grief experiences on this model. Ultra-Orthodox Israeli Jews who experienced the Meron disaster ( N  = 168) responded to scales assessing demographics, SNtD, death anxiety, and psychological distress. Death anxiety mediated the SNtD-distress link and grief was a significant moderator. Specifically, for individuals low in grief, the association between high death anxiety and increased distress was nullified. Findings are discussed from the perspective of Terror Management Theory.

Basing our argument on Terror Management Theory, we posit that retirement is an age-related transition, which could result in greater death saliency and anxiety, leading to increased depressive symptoms. An indirect-effect model was tested on a convenience sample of 574 Israeli Jewish older workers (mean age = 57), finding that the link between retirement anxiety and depressive symptoms is mediated through death anxiety. Anxious anticipation of retirement could imply that the individual perceives it as an "end," resulting in greater death saliency and death anxiety, which are related to poorer mental health. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

We examined whether subjective nearness-to-death is associated with negative attitudes toward people with disabilities, and whether attachment patterns moderate this connection. A total of 462 Israeli adults, average age 57 years, completed scales measuring subjective nearness-to-death, negative attitudes toward people with disability, and attachment patterns. High levels of subjective nearness-to-death were associated with negative attitudes toward people with disability, and attachment patterns were significant moderators. Findings point to the theoretical importance of both perceptions of death and personal resources for coping with subjective nearness-to-death in relation to attitudes toward individuals with disabilities.

The current study examined whether emotional concern over one's security situation is connected with death anxiety during an ongoing terror wave, and whether type of exposure (media exposure vs. contact with witnesses) moderates this connection. A total of 345 individuals, aged 18-70, were sampled during an ongoing wave of terror in Israel and filled out scales measuring death anxiety, concern over security situation, and type of exposure. Results indicated that increased concern was connected with enhanced death anxiety. Moreover, this connection was more pronounced among individuals exposed to the events through the media, in comparison with individuals who had first-hand contact with witnesses.