The Relationship Between Death Anxiety And Self-Esteem: A Systematic Review Protocol

The goal is to illuminate the strength and direction of the relationship and to inform future intervention targets.

• The protocol targets the relationship between death anxiety and self-esteem, positioning self-esteem as a potential protective factor within Terror Management Theory (TMT) and noting that death anxiety is increasingly viewed as transdiagnostic across multiple mental health conditions.
• The intent is to systematically review peer‑reviewed, quantitative research and, when feasible, quantify the association between death anxiety and self-esteem via meta-analysis.

The protocol commits to screening the first 200 Google Scholar records by relevance.

Data extraction and quality appraisal will be conducted using Joanna Briggs Institute tools, again by at least two authors to minimize bias, with unresolved questions escalated to a senior team for consensus.

When data permit, a meta-analysis will be conducted using the MAJOR extension for Jamovi to compute an overall effect size for the association between death anxiety and self-esteem.

• Comprehensive search strategy: six principal databases are specified—MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and EMBASE—with an additional search of Google Scholar.
• Screening and data extraction: records will be screened by multiple authors to ensure eligibility, with at least two reviewers per record.
• Synthesis plan: a narrative synthesis will summarize relevant findings.
• Moderation analysis: if sufficient data exist, the review will explore potential moderators, including gender, age, and clinical versus non-clinical population status, to assess whether these factors influence the magnitude or direction of the association.

It accommodates both quantitative and mixed-methods designs, though the synthesis will focus on quantitative data suitable for meta-analysis.

Specifics about measurement tools, effect size metrics, or exact inclusion/exclusion thresholds are not detailed in the provided text, leaving these elements implicit but governed by standard systematic review practices.

• Population, exposure, and outcomes: the protocol targets studies that quantitatively examine the association between death anxiety and self-esteem.
• Inclusion criteria and limitations: the plan specifies inclusion of peer‑reviewed quantitative work.

• Theoretical context: within TMT, self-esteem is posited as a meaningful buffer against death anxiety by supporting perceived significance and meaning in life, thereby aiding processing of mortality.
• Evidence aim: by aggregating findings, the authors seek to validate the association, quantify its magnitude, and clarify whether self-esteem could be a viable target in deaths-related anxiety interventions.
• Practical relevance: outcomes are framed as informing whether reinforcing self-esteem might contribute to reducing death-related anxiety and enhancing broader mental health, though the protocol itself is not clinical guidance.

• The protocol adheres to PRISMA guidelines and has a registered PROSPERO entry (CRD42024591775), signaling a commitment to preregistered methods and transparent reporting.
• The authors acknowledge potential limitations in data availability that could constrain meta-analytic synthesis and moderator analyses; where data are insufficient, the plan is to provide a narrative synthesis with explicit uncertainty.