Types of Students' Death Attitudes Majoring in Human Service Area: Q-Methodological Approach

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze death attitudes of students majoring in the human service area, such as nursing science, education, and social welfare. METHOD: The Q-methodology which provides a method of analyzing the subjectivity of each item was used. The 38 selected Q-statements from each of 42 subjects were classified into a shape of normal distribution using a 9 point scale. The collected data was analyzed using a QUANL PC program. RESULT: Four types of death attitudes for research subjects in nursing, education, and social welfare areas were identified. Type I is fatalistic admission, Type II is pursuit of existential life, Type III is uncertainty of life after death, and Type IV is separation-connection between life and death. CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that different approaches of death educational programs are recommended based on the four types of death attitudes.