The captain of my soul: Self-determination and need-satisfaction help manage death-related cognition, anxiety, and well-being.

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  • Author(s): Vail KE;Vail KE; Horner DE; Horner DE
  • Source:
    Journal of personality and social psychology [J Pers Soc Psychol] 2023 Dec; Vol. 125 (6), pp. 1308-1331. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Sep 28.
  • Publication Type:
    Journal Article
  • Language:
    English
  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: American Psychological Association Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0014171 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1939-1315 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00223514 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Pers Soc Psychol Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Publication: Washington Dc : American Psychological Association
      Original Publication: Washington, American Psychological Assn.
    • Subject Terms:
      Anxiety* ; Anxiety Disorders*; Humans ; Self Concept ; Cognition ; Personal Satisfaction
    • Abstract:
      The present research tested the idea that a self-determined orientation may help people manage death-related thoughts and anxieties, and mitigate the effects of death awareness on well-being. Seven studies ( N = 3,331), using a diversity of measures and manipulations, were consistent with that idea. First, mortality salience (vs. other topic primes) increased death-thought accessibility, but not if participants had high need-satisfaction (Study 1, n = 160; Study 2, n = 216) or were prompted to recall self-determined experiences (Study 3, n = 188). Second, need-satisfaction was associated with reduced death anxiety (Study 4a, n = 301; Study 4b, n = 1,848), and priming self-determined concepts eliminated the effect of mortality salience on death anxiety (Study 5, n = 119). Third, heightened death-thought accessibility was related to lower satisfaction with life (Study 6, n = 271) and happiness (Study 7, n = 228), but not among those with high need-satisfaction. Supplemental analyses suggested the effects of need-satisfaction were not due to associations with affect (Studies 1, 6, 7), epistemic certainty (ideological dogmatism, Study 4a), or mindfulness (Studies 5b and 6); need-satisfaction mitigated the effects of existential concern via self-esteem but not via growth orientation (Study 4b) nor due to its relationship with Openness (Studies 6 and 7). Together, these findings suggest a self-determined orientation can help buffer existential concern and buoy well-being and point to a potential existential protective function beyond its known growth-oriented functions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20230928 Date Completed: 20231216 Latest Revision: 20231216
    • Publication Date:
      20231217
    • Accession Number:
      10.1037/pspa0000357
    • Accession Number:
      37768625