ATTITUDES TOWARD THE VOLUNTARY TAKING OF LIFE - AN UPDATED ANALYSIS OF EUTHANASIA CORRELATES

Predictors of attitudes toward euthanasia and suicide options for the terminally ill from 1977 to 1985 are examined. Multiple regression analyses indicate that the importance of several predictor variables has changed over time; variables of an ideological nature, in particular, appear significant when used as predictors. Further inspection of the data suggests the importance of religious affiliation in explaining right-to-die attitudes. The overall analysis supports the necessity of taking into account ideological as well as demographi-cal variables when conducting research concerning death attitudes. Results indicate that religious and secular ideologies will likely influence the social construction of institutional policies intended to cope with the voluntary taking of life. © 1991 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.