Death Anxiety: What Psychology Says About the Fear of Dying

Most people are afraid of dying at some point. For some, the fear is mild and passes. For others it can take over their thoughts. Psychologists call it death anxiety, and they have studied it for decades. This article explains what the research says, in plain terms. It is not medical advice.

What is death anxiety?

Anxiety caused by thoughts of your own death. A research summary notes it is also called thanatophobia, or fear of death, and that thinkers such as Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson, and Ernest Becker wrote about it. The summary also describes Robert Langs’ idea that there are several types, including an existential kind that comes from the basic knowledge that life must end. A systematic review found that death anxiety shows up across several mental health conditions.

Who feels it most?

Younger and middle-aged adults, according to several studies. A 2025 systematic review says death anxiety peaks in young to middle adulthood and declines in older age, though it remains a concern in clinical settings. A national survey of 2,783 U.S. adults by the University of Michigan found that death anxiety was higher among younger and middle-aged people than among older ones. A 2024 review of 46 studies on older adults found five themes: demographic factors, psychological and social factors, spiritual and religious factors, reminders of death, and effective interventions.

Does religion help?

A little, but it depends. A meta-analysis from Oxford University researchers pooled 202 results from 100 studies. It found only a weak link between more religiosity and less fear of death. The researchers also found a difference in how people hold their faith. People who were intrinsically religious, meaning their faith is a deep personal commitment, had lower death anxiety. Those who were extrinsically religious, using religion for social or practical benefits, had higher death anxiety. The study also looked for an “inverted-U” pattern, in which both very religious and very non-religious people fear death less than those who are unsure. Ten of the 11 studies that tested for it found some support. The Michigan survey found that a religious sense of hope, but not general hope, reduced death anxiety in older age groups.

Can it be treated?

Yes. The Wikipedia-derived summary reports that a meta-analysis of psychological treatments for death anxiety showed it can be reduced using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). A 2025 review looked at the psychological protocols used in clinical settings. If a fear of death is interfering with your sleep, work, or relationships, talk to a doctor or mental health professional. In a crisis, call or text 988.

What else can help?

Talking openly. The same summary notes that death anxiety can make a person very reluctant to discuss anything to do with death. Having honest conversations, planning ahead, and learning what to expect may make the unknown less frightening. See What Is Hospice? for what care at the end of life involves.

Where can I read more?

For why people fear death at all, see Why Are Humans Afraid of Death? and Terror Management Theory. For philosophers’ answers, see Stoicism and Death and Existentialism and Death.