ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Means to measure death anxiety, death depression and sense of symbolic immortality with approved validity and reliability does not yet exist in Korea. METHODS: Existing English questionnaires such as Templer Death Anxiety Scale (TDAS), Death Depression Scale (DDS), Sense of Symbolic Immortaligy Scale (SSIS) were translated into Korean by 5 translators, and then reviewed by 3 non-participants of translation for collegial summary and this summary was counter-translated again by another 2 non-participants. Another 3 non-participants of translation and counter-translation were chosen to examine the two sentences of each item. Then reexamination was done by retranslating and counter-translating the parts with errors. Aftr pretest on ordinary people. the completed questionnaires were given to medical students, residents and nurses of a university hospital. Pastors and missionaries were selected as comparison group. RESULTS: Kuder-Richardson or Cronbach-alpha that represent internal consistency of TDAS, DDS and SSIs was 0.69, 0.84 and 0.78. The three sentences that lowered internal consistency of SSIS was deleted. BDI and DDS showed a positive correlation (0.32, P=0.02), suggesting proved construct validity. Correlation coefficient that proves construct validity of TDAS and DDS was 0.54 (P<0.01), of SSIS and TDAS -0.23(P=0.04), of SSIS and DDS -0.29(P=0.01). The TDAS and DDS(P<0.01), DDS and BDI(P=0.02) have shown a positive correlation were shown. There was significant difference in the score of SSIS(P<0.01). The same results in cases where the 3 sentences was deleted. CONCLUSION: Korean versions of TDAS, DDS and SSIS were reliable and valid.