Relational Conclusion through Interaction with the Dying

Abstract

Relational conclusion when one person in a relationship is known to be dying has not been studied by communication researchers. Since every relationship has the potential of ending because of the death of one of its members, relational conclusion should be studied. In the first part of this study, 455 respondents agreed or disagreed with Likert-type statements about what persons would say or do when communicating with a close friend or family member who is known to be dying. The rated statements were subjected to a factor analysis procedure. An Interaction with the Dying Measurement (IDM) was developed containing five factors: expressions of love and affection, avoidance of discussion of the impending death, bolstering of spirits, expressions of loss, and acts of succorance. In the second part of this study, the IDM was used as the dependent measure in the following conditions: intimate and nonintimate relationship with the dying person. The following hypothesis was confirmed: Persons in the intimate condition will score significantly different scores on the IDM than persons in the nonintimate condition.