Paul Tillich's theory of existential anxiety: A preliminary conceptual and empirical examination

    Authors

    C. F. Weems; N. M. Costa; C. Dehon;S. L. Berman

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Anxiety Stress Coping

    Keywords

    anxiety; depression; existential anxiety; theory; DEATH ANXIETY; CHILDREN; ADOLESCENTS; FEARS; DEPRESSION; RELIABILITY; VALIDITY; SCALE; GUILT; STYLE; Neurosciences; Psychiatry; Psychology, Multidisciplinary

    Abstract

    This paper conceptually explores Paul Tillich's theory of existential anxiety and examines existing research relevant to each of Tillich's domains of existential apprehension. This paper also reports data from two initial empirical studies of Tillich's model of existential anxiety and its relation to symptoms of anxiety and depression. A self-report measure of existential anxiety, the Existential Anxiety Questionnaire (EAQ) based on Tillich's conceptualization, was developed and data were collected from two socioeconomic and ethnically diverse samples of adults (Study 1, N =225; Study 2, N =331). Results indicated that the EAQ has good test-retest and internal consistency reliability and a factor structure consistent with theory. The EAQ also demonstrated good convergent and incremental validity estimates. The data suggest that existential anxiety concerns are common and that they are associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression as well as psychological distress related to identity problems. Results are discussed with regard to their support for the viability of employing Tillich's theory in empirical research on existential anxiety and the importance of further exploring the relation between existential anxiety concerns and other facets of emotional experience such as clinical anxiety and depression.

    Journal Title

    Anxiety Stress and Coping

    Volume

    17

    Issue/Number

    4

    Publication Date

    1-1-2004

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    383

    Last Page

    399

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000225926600005

    ISSN

    1061-5806

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