The Enduring Protective Role of Psychological Resilience Against Death Anxiety in Counseling Psychologists

This study investigates whether the protective role of psychological resilience against death anxiety among counseling psychologists varies by gender, age, marital status, loss experience, and professional experience. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 96 counseling psychologists through validated scales. Independent samples t-tests, ANOVA, and moderator analyses were conducted. Findings showed that men reported higher resilience, while women reported higher death anxiety. With age, resilience increased and death anxiety declined. Professional experience correlated with higher resilience but had no effect on death anxiety. Marital status and recent loss experience showed no significant impact. Moderator analyses demonstrated that psychological resilience consistently exerted a protective effect on death anxiety, independent of socio-demographic and professional variables. The results are discussed in relation to existing literature, Terror Management Theory, and the Dynamic Model of Resilience, concluding with theoretical and practical implications for coping with existential concerns.