PhD Scientific Days 2022

Mental Health Sciences I. (Poster discussion will take place in the Aula during the Coffee Break)

Relationship between cultural life and death anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic from the aspect of Terror Management Theory

Text of the abstract

Introduction: The mental health outcomes of the recent COVID-19 pandemic (called psychodemic) has been getting more and more attention not only in public but also in scientific discussions. Nonetheless, official decisions were taken focusing mostly on the physical rather than the psychological consequences. Increasing mental disorders during the pandemic may shed a light on the specific connection between fear of death and culture. Some researchers consider death anxiety as a transdiagnostic construct. Lockdowns accompanying the pandemic caused serious problems for artists, while the therapeutic role of art in society is proven. Analyzing the relationship between cultural life, art, the pandemic and lockdowns could open new insight into the role of death anxiety on the mental well-being of our society.

Aims: Our study is to provide an overview on the connection between culture, art, death anxiety and mental health in crisis and to offer a new attitude for decision-makers (and key opinion leaders) on how to handle these kinds of situations.

Method: 30 semi-structured interviews with 10-10 members of 3 groups (visual artists, performers and art consumers) are to be conducted. Thematic analysis is done with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), statistical analysis will be performed using Atlas-ti software (version 6.0). The ethics approval number is IV/2481-4/2022/EKU.

Present state and further plans: Review of literature has started, 3 pilot interviews have been conducted, 30 interviews are planned. (until May)

Conclusions: Decision makers mostly made their decisions without considering the possibility of the psychodemic. Culture and art is functioning as a shelter from overwhelming death anxiety which has a notable impact on the mental health of our society. Other parts of culture – religion, sport, politics etc – need to be examined from this aspect.

Additional Information:
Gabor Vona
Doctoral School of Mental Health Sciences, Semmelweis University
vona.gabor@phd.semmelweis.hu

Supervisor: Dr. Katalin Hegedűs PhD
hegedus.katalin@med.semmelweis-univ.hu