2025 Volume 35 Issue 1 Pages 43-52
Anzu NAKAYAMA This study aimed to assess high school students’ perspectives on life and death, comparing preferences for the disclosure of medical diagnosis to oneself and family members across regions and genders. In May 2023, a questionnaire survey was conducted using the “Life and Death Questionnaire Sheets” (Maruyama et al., 2000) among 100 second-year high school students in science classes from both Prefectures A and B. The study focused on five factors each for individuals and families who wished to be informed: “rights, preparation, family, self-determination, confidence,” and for those who do not wish to be informed: “not desiring to watch, being watched, after being watched, care, consideration.” The results revealed no significant regional differences in the presence or absence of a desire for disclosure. However, regarding the reasons for desiring disclosure, the “self-determination” factor was significantly higher in Prefecture B than in Prefecture A. Notably, in Prefecture A, women showed a stronger tendency than men to desire disclosure for reasons related to “preparation” and “family,” and in Prefecture B, the “preparation” factor was also statistically higher among women. Additionally, for reasons related to family disclosure, Prefecture A scored statistically higher than Prefecture B in the “preparation” factor, with men in Prefecture B emphasizing “rights” and women emphasizing “preparation.” These results suggest that regional and gender differences contribute to the reasons for desiring the disclosure of a diagnosis.
