Gender Difference in Death Anxiety among Cancer Patients

Death Anxiety is a condition that is associated with the fear of one’s own death as well as that of others (Kubler, 1969). People with high levels of death anxiety are prone to stress, depression and sometimes to the death of individuals due to the alterations occurring in the body physiology (Cella & Tross, 1987). Studies show that death anxiety among cancer patients is higher than that of normal individuals (Massie, 2004) and it may decrease their chances of survival. The aim of the present investigation is to compare death anxiety among male cancer patients and female cancer patients. 90 cancer patients (Males=40, Females=40) are selected for the study through convenient sampling.  Socio demographic data sheet and Death Anxiety Scale by (Dhar, Savita & Dhar, 1998) were used to collect the data.  The data was analyzed by using student t-test.  The result shows that there is high death anxiety among cancer patients. It is found that there is no significant difference in death anxiety among male and female cancer patients.  It is observed that Death anxiety and related symptoms are common in cancer patients and there is no significant relationship between death anxiety among male and female cancer patients. Cancer patients with increased death anxieties, should be given psychological interventions along with proper medical care to increase their chances of survival.