CONCEPT OF DEATH IN A SAMPLE OF ISRAELI KIBBUTZ CHILDREN

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Abstract
The study of children's concept of death and factors that affect its acquisition continue to evolve. In this study, the concept of death of 22 Israeli children (aged 5-12 years), were assessed using vignettes. Participants' understanding of finality, universality, inevitability , and total concept of death were explored using the Concept of Death Assessment (CODA). The child's developmental level was assessed using an interactive developmental tool based on a Piagetian/constructivist framework (R. B. Sund, 1976). Development was scored as a continuous, rather than as a dichotomous variable. In this sample, age was the only significant predictor of concept of death (p<.01). Children had an accurate concept of death as young as 6 years, however, it was not possible to determine an upper age limit by which children had an accurate concept of death. The mean developmental score was 64.8% +- 18.7. Still, 45% of this sample had an accurate concept of death, and 95.5% had an accurate understanding of finality. Environmental factors unique to an Israeli sample that might affect concept acquisition are explored. Questions remain about the interrelationship of development and concept acquisition.