Article Review on Personality's Role in Death Anxiety: Unveiling Insights from Grevenstein and Bluemke's Study

Introduction to Probability and Statistics

The paper intends to review the article by Grevenstein and Matthias Bluemke, "Who is Afraid of Death and Terrorists? Investigating the Moderating Effects of Sense of Coherence, Mindfulness Neuroticism, and the Meaning of Life on Mortality Salience”. Grevenstein and Matthias Bluemke carried out a study regarding the human reaction towards death. The article holds that human beings are always aware of mortality, thus creating an existential threat within themselves (Grevenstein, & Bluemke, 2016). The article also claims that the terror created is a threat to individuals. As such, an individual's culture can be used as a shield and psychological means to handle terror, promoting self-esteem, meaningful life, and security. The researchers also state that, based on terror management theory people cling to their culture, threaten those who do not support their culture, and appreciate individuals who value and live by their culture. Some of the questions found in the article include; are you worried about death? What is the effect of mortality salience manipulation? Furthermore, the primary hypothesis of the study claims that there is a moderating impact of meaning in life, mindfulness, neuroticism, as well as a sense of coherence on mortality salient (MS). The purpose of the research is to examine the moderating effect of personality on MS.

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For centuries null hypothesis testing has been dominant as far as statistical analysis of psychology is concerned. The topic of null hypothesis has also been a subject of criticism in the field of psychology. The solution lies in whether to replace the theoretical null hypothesis with a meaningful theoretical hypothesis or not. The reforms will demand that psychological researchers train more in parameter estimation as well as testing of theoretical models, a strategy that not only appears in the field of science but also in psychology. The approach will make sure that the statistical hypothesis is associated with the substantive hypothesis of interest. To articulate and discuss the changes taking place in psychology concerning the null hypothesis, I will review the article by Dennis Gravenstein and Matthias Bluemke, "Who is Afraid of Death and Terrorists? Investigating the Moderating Effects of Sense of Coherence, Mindfulness Neuroticism, and the Meaning of Life on Mortality Salience” and propose further changes in future.

The American Psychological Association, at some point, convened a task force to discuss and make recommendations regarding the statistical exercises within the area of psychology. At the same time, the final report reduced the criticism; however, the controversy concerning the subject is far from over (Grevenstein, & Bluemke, 2016). Some of the recommendations or references pointed out by the APA in its publication manual include reporting of confidence intervals and reporting of observed effect size measures.

Back to the article, the null hypothesis holds that there are visible differences among all participating sexes. On the other hand, the alternative hypothesis for this article could have been the moderator role of personality on the mortality salience is different. The question mostly revolved around essential factors such as meaning in life, neuroticism, and a sense of coherence (Grevenstein, & Bluemke, 2016).

Test statistics used in the study

Since there was no significant difference as far as the participant sex is concerned, the effect of mortality salient was investigated, and contrary to the initial assertion, the effect on mortality salient could not be found (Grevenstein, & Bluemke, 2016). Therefore after the refusal of the null hypothesis, other statistical studies were done through regression with the help of bivariate and multivariate. Furthermore, statistical studies indicated using personality variables through Z-interaction as well as standardized terms computation with experimental conditions. The regression analysis was utilized to measure the immediate impact of personality and the entire interactions with mortality salient. The post hoc power analysis through G-power was also used

Significance of the Test

The significance level has to do with the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis when it is true. The researcher conducted the calculation of mean scores and a different alpha level of between 0.83 to 0.978 through the statistical test of t-test and ANOVA was found.

Report of Statistical Test

The survey carried out the study using a sample of N=254 participants with a total of n=196 female and n=58 male. The mean age was 30.1, and SD age ==11.7 years. The questions covering important factors were availed to the participants. Comparing data using sex and also conditioned by MANOVA to control raising errors. There was no difference reported in the t-test. Secondly, another analysis was conducted to determine the moderator function of the personality variables happening to be z-standardized as well as interaction terms calculated through experimental conditions- coded as 0=control and 1=MS.

The result indicated that there was a significant effect of personality variables during the prediction of death anxiety. The huge impact was depicted in neuroticism personality. In order to conduct further analysis regarding the effect of personality on death anxiety, regression analysis was done with the entire personality, including mindfulness, neuroticism, SIC, and meaning of life. Neuroticism came first as the most important significant predictor highlighting “(β = .29, p < .05)”. The three competitors including “SOC: β = .03, p = .77; mindfulness: β = −.10, p = .28; meaning in life: β = .05, p = .54)” had a less significant difference to the variance (Grevenstein, & Bluemke, 2016).

Discussion of Result

The research is founded in the regression studies and concludes that there is the presence of a significant effect of personality variables at the time of forecasting death anxiety (Grevenstein, & Bluemke, 2016). Neuroticism had a significant main effect. There were no salient mortality manipulations between personality traits. There were no interaction effects from the global view by the defense task. While the global defense task showed internally consistent measures, it is not influenced or affected by experimental manipulation variables and individual differences.

The hypothesis was not supported since the research lacked the main effect of mortality salience manipulation. The study failed to detect the impact of mortality salience on death anxiety as well as world views. Therefore, in the future researchers should explore all moderating effects stemming from personality on MS.

Reference

Grevenstein, D., & Bluemke, M. (2016). Who's Afraid of Death and Terrorists? Investigating Moderating Effects of Sense of Coherence, Mindfulness, Neuroticism, and Meaning in Life on Mortality Salience. Journal of Articles in Support of the Null Hypothesis, 13(1) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304782304_Who's_Afraid_of_Death_and_Terrorists_Investigating_Moderating_Effects_of_Sense_of_Coherence_Mindfulness_Neuroticism_and_Meaning_in_Life_on_Mortality_Salience.