Appreciation in the face of death: Meaningful films buffer against death-related anxiety

Rieger Diana, Frischlich Lena, Högden Fabia, Schramm Kristina, Kauf Robert, Tappe Erzsébet

Abstract

Entertainment media are found to evoke appreciation when they deal with topics such as moral virtues, values, or questions of sense in life. Drawing upon terror management theory, we question whether meaningful media can also serve as anxiety buffer shielding against the threat of death, as they transport cultural worldviews and enhance self-esteem among recipients. Results of an experimental study (N = 122) confirmed that participants under mortality salience appreciated a meaningful movie more than participants in a control condition. Further, only a meaningful movie, not a pleasurable or an informative film, decreased the necessity to activate further anxiety buffers after mortality salience. The findings are discussed in relation to entertainment media as means to handle existential fears.