Abstract

Data was gathered in the Spring, 1992 for a systematically selected sample drawn from the National Hemlock Society's membership. This organization has approximately 53,000 advocates for the legalization of euthanasia. The purpose of the exploratory study was to find characteristics that contribute to and are common among a population of believers and advocates of euthanasia. ;Five-hundred and fifty-four of 800 social survey design questionnaire's mailed were returned and usable. The questionnaire incorporated three scales: Profile of Mood States , Templer's Death Anxiety Scale , and Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control . Mood state was the dependent variable; independent variables were: age, gender, income, education, religion, death anxiety, locus of control, and three sub-groups identified as poor personal health , loved one's poor health or demise , and no health factor . Statistical procedures used in the data analyses were Chi square, t-test, Pearson's correlation, multiple regression, ANOVA, and MANOVA. ;The demographics were: 97% Anglo, aged 50-79, female , middle to upper income, non-religious , married or widowed , retired , highly educated , and without life threatening illness . ;Mood state scores were significantly lower than the "norms" from comparative studies, suggesting a well adjusted population. Health was the primary factor in the regression analysis of mood state, followed by death anxiety and I-E . The majority of respondents had a terminally ill or deceased loved one; 13% reported serious illness. There was a significant positive correlation between death anxiety and I-E. While overall death anxiety scores were low, females reported higher death anxiety than males. Furthermore, death anxiety decreased concomitant with age increase. ;The importance of internality was supported by the correlation between I-E, death anxiety, and total mood state, suggesting control is important in death decisions. Reports of low church attendance , no church affiliation and no belief in afterlife implies respondents are low in religiosity