Psychological vulnerability versus protective resources in predicting death anxiety: Evidence from a diverse Israeli sample

The present study examined whether psychological vulnerability variables or traditionally recognized protective resources were more strongly associated with death anxiety in a diverse Israeli sample. Participants (N = 451) completed measures assessing socio-demographic characteristics, personality traits, mental health indicators, and religious variables. All 14 predictors were entered simultaneously into a regression model to identify variables associated with death anxiety. Five variables emerged as significant predictors: female gender, Arab ethnicity, neuroticism, generalized anxiety, and negative religious coping. In contrast, traditionally assumed protective variables, including optimism, self-esteem, religious participation, and positive religious coping, did not retain associations after accounting for shared variance. Findings suggest that psychological vulnerability, emotional instability, and spiritual struggle may demonstrate stronger direct associations with death anxiety than commonly presumed protective resources. Protective factors may instead operate indirectly through broader emotional and psychological processes. Findings are discussed from existential, clinical, and sociocultural perspectives across contemporary theoretical frameworks.