FEAR OF PERSONAL DEATH AND THE MMPI PROFILE OF MIDDLE-AGE MEN - THE MODERATING IMPACT OF PERSONAL LOSSES

The present study examines the association of fear of personal death and aspects of psychological maladjustment and the moderating impact of personal losses. Ninety-seven middle-aged Israeli males completed the MMPI, a brief scale on personal loss experiences, and the Fear of Personal Death Scale. Results revealed that the MMPI profile was significantly related to the pattern of fear of personal death. This association, however, only reached significance among the middle-aged men who had not experienced personal losses. In addition, respondents who had experienced personal losses reported higher levels of fear of personal death than respondents who had not experienced any personal loss. Results were discussed from a multidimensional perspective of fear of death.