Scale-Description

The Templer Death Anxiety Scale (TDAS) is a psychometric scale developed by Donald I. Templer in 1970 to measure anxiety related to death. The scale consists of 15 statements that assess the degree to which individuals worry or fear death and the dying process. Each statement is answered with “true” or “false,” and the total score is derived from the sum of “true” responses that indicate high death anxiety.

Data Analysis and Use

Data analysis for the TDAS involves using statistical methods to examine the properties of the scale, such as its reliability and validity. Common statistical methods include calculating Cronbach’s Alpha to assess internal consistency and applying factor analysis to explore the scale’s structure.

Data from the TDAS can be used in research to understand death anxiety across different populations and to investigate the relationships between death anxiety and other psychological parameters, such as depression, anxiety, and quality of life.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Templer Death Anxiety Scale is to quantitatively measure death anxiety across different populations, facilitating the understanding of how this anxiety affects individuals’ psychology and behavior. The scale is also used to assess the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing death anxiety.

Calibration

Calibration of the TDAS involves establishing the scoring thresholds that differentiate between varying levels of death anxiety. The initial calibration was conducted through studies with large populations, and the scale’s reliability has been confirmed through repeated testing with different samples.

References

Templer, D. I. (1970). The construction and validation of a death anxiety scale. Journal of General Psychology, 82(2), 165-177.
Abdel-Khalek, A. M. (2005). Death Anxiety in Clinical and Non-Clinical Groups. Psychological Reports, 96(2), 547-558.
Neimeyer, R. A. (1994). Death Anxiety Handbook: Research, Instrumentation, and Application. Taylor & Francis.
Thorson, J. A., & Powell, F. C. (1992). A Revised Death Anxiety Scale. Death Studies, 16(6), 507-521.