Terror management theory research suggests that self-esteem acts as an anxiety buffer and high self-esteem can reduce implicit death thoughts and worldview defense. Self-compassion, it is argued, enhances wellbeing by making people feel safe and secure, while self-esteem makes people feel superior and sometimes unrealistically self-confident. Through a series of studies, this dissertation investigated buffering of death anxiety by self-compassion. Studies 1 and 2 investigated the role of trait (Study 1) and induced (Study 2) self-compassion in buffering existential anxiety by reducing implicit death thoughts. Studies 3 and 4 investigated the role of trait (Study 3) and induced (Study 4) self-compassion in buffering existential anxiety by reducing worldview defense. The series of studies did not support the proposed hypotheses, as they failed to replicate the expected mortality salience effects. Because of this, the effects of self-compassion on implicit death anxiety were also not evident. Possible reasons for failure to reject the null hypotheses are discussed and recommendation for future studies is given.

The present study seeks to determine the relationship between Terror Management Theory (TMT) and various measures of existential anxiety, future consciousness, and future-oriented thinking. By using TMT as a theoretical construct, a scale was devised to measure participants’ protective behaviors relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. Three other scales were utilized, including Lalot’s Future Consciousness Scale (FCS), Strathman’s Consideration of Future Consequences Scale (CFCS), and Weems’ Existential Anxiety Questionnaire (EAQ). The scales were combined into one composite survey along with demographic questions. 315 participants were then administered the collection of scales via an only survey platform. Results indicated strong significant correlations between the scale developed and the three other scales utilized. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed the three scales utilized were strong predictor variables of proximal and distal protective behaviors as predicted by TMT. The possibilities for future research include expansion of the knowledge regarding protective behaviors during widespread health issues, and how to design programs to maximize protective behaviors to minimize health risks.

The following article is a study about counsellors working with terminally ill patients receiving Palliative care. In an effort to understand their role in the Palliative team and how they participate in the care of dying individuals, four counsellors working in four different Palliative hospices in Stockholm were interviewed by using structured interviews. The key questions concern the methods and interventions counsellors use, the risk factors that the job entails, the support they receive and finally their reflections about life and death The literature on the topic was accessed via Ersta Sköndal Högskola College library and Internet database. The results of the study reveal that Palliative Care Approach takes into consideration all aspects of an individual (physical, psychological, social and spiritual). Counsellors are part of a multidisciplinary team and their role is to focus on the social and psychological aspects. They undertake comprehensive assessments of the patient’s context and their coping strategies through the use of psychosocial theories such as Sense of Coherence and Logo therapy. Via their skilled use of core counselling skills they establish close relationships with patients and families. At the same time they are always mindful of keeping the right distance. Counsellors are the receivers of a lot of emotional pain and suffering of patients and families and as such this transference can lead to emotional exhaustion. Access to good support is an essential prerequisite for avoiding burnout. Close encounters with death leads to reflections of life and death. Counsellors need to be well developed and experienced in order to provide good quality palliative care.

KRÁTKÁ, Eva. The Issues of Meaning of Life and Selected Aspects of Existential Anxiety. Prague, 2012. Dissertation. Charles University in Prague, Philosophical Faculty, Department of Psychology. This dissertation explores issues of experiencing the meaningfulness of life and of selected aspects of existential anxiety, and it verifies whether there is some connection between some measure of meaninglessness of life being experienced and some measure of knowingly experienced existential anxiety and some selected factors which can influence our awareness of our anxiety. The research is focused mainly on adolescents and young and middle-aged adults of different genders, degrees of education and residences in the Czech republic. The survey included 170 respondents and was done with use of quantitative method. Obtained data were processed using the SPSS statistical program, and they are presented in the form of tables, graphs and commentaries. This study confirms an importance and frequency of existential beliefs and experiences and it shows that they are closely connected to an experienced meaningfulness of life and to some personality traits and circumstances of life. Therefore, a deeper research of this area seems to be beneficial and helpful not only from the therapeutic point of view alone.

The main topic of this thesis is the subjective experience of anxiety. The author has attempted to secede from the strictly psychological level, therefore there are authors dealing with the overlap of human existence included. As a result, the thesis is also a partly philosophical view of anxiety. However, given the focus of the author, the greater part of the work is based on the psychological view. In the practical part, the hypothesis that the consciousness of the meaning of life has a certain influence on the experience of anxiety was confirmed. However, this effect is not as large and as clear as Frankl describes in his work.