[UK] Adopting the lens of the COM-B behaviour change model to qualitatively explore and understand public health implications of young adults' attitudes towards death-talk

[UK] Adopting the lens of the COM-B behaviour change model to qualitatively explore and understand public health implications of young adults' attitudes towards death-talk
BMC Public Health; by Catrin Morgan-Duggan, Joanna Brooks, Lisa Graham-Wisener, Christine Rowland; 10/25
The topic of death and dying holds universal significance, yet societal norms often discourage open discussions, leading to a culture of death-denial. The analysis revealed four key themes which collectively illustrate the complex interplay between individual attitudes and broader cultural influences in shaping how young adults perceive and discuss death and dying. The themes highlighted how internal and external factors affect the ability and willingness of young adults to engage in meaningful discussions about death. Factors such as social stigma, fear of causing distress, and a lack of communication skills were identified as significant barriers. Conversely, the recognition of the importance of death-talk, personal experiences with bereavement, and a supportive social environment were found to facilitate these discussions. Findings were mapped using the Capabilities, Opportunities, Motivations, and Behaviour (COM-B) model of behaviour change, to identify potentially modifiable barriers and facilitators to engaging in death-talk.