This research is the first to test the relation between postformal complex thought (PFT) and death acceptance. College students
(N=225) completed the PFT questionnaire (Cartwright et al., J Adult Dev, 2009), the Need for Cognition scale (Cacioppo et al., J Personality Assess 48:3, 1984), and Klug’s Death Acceptance Scale, comprised of death integration and confrontation scales (Klug and Sinha,
... [Show full abstract] Omega 18:229–235,
1987). A series of hierarchical regression analyses showed PFT made a significant contribution to death acceptance over the contributions
of other cognitive and demographic variables, as predicted. Further, PFT made a significant contribution to death integration
but not to death confrontation. These results are consistent with contemporary theories of adult cognitive development and
PFT.