Insecure attachment as a predictor of death anxiety: A meta-analysis

Death Stud. 2025 Nov 5:1-14. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2025.2580257. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

From the perspective of terror management theory (TMT), close relationships buffer against death anxiety. However, it is unclear whether these relationships are always the primary protective mechanism or interchangeable with other established anxiety buffers depending on situational contexts. Thus, this meta-analysis examined moderating variables in the link between attachment orientations and death anxiety, including 18 studies with 6338 participants. Attachment anxiety was associated with higher death anxiety (r = 0.27, 95% CI [0.18, 0.36]), with no significant moderators. Attachment avoidance also predicted death anxiety (r = 0.16, 95% CI [0.07, 0.24]), moderated by age and education. These findings support the role of close relationships in mitigating death anxiety and refine the understanding of TMT mechanisms.

PMID:41191772 | DOI:10.1080/07481187.2025.2580257