INVESTIGATION OF A TYPOLOGY OF LIFE AND DEATH AMONG HOSPICE WORKERS

A typology of life and death was investigated in relation to demograph ic characteristics, social comparisons, work orientation, and depressi ve symptoms among 240 hospice workers who replied to a mail questionna ire. Even though conceptions of life and death are part of the same li fe cycle, they have often been studied separately among those who work with the dying. There was evidence for the usefulness of the typology in the study of indicators of quality of life. A discriminant analysi s indicated that four types (positivists, temporal optimists, resigned futurists, and negativists) were differentiated by social-psychologic al and demographic characteristics. Implications for application are s uggested.