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Open research questions in Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion

252 gap statements mined from Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 1,744 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • The neurocognitive mechanisms underlying language-based implicit modulation of social pain remain poorly understood.

    Language-based labeling modulates oscillatory neural dynamics of social pain processing · 2026 · DOI

  • Individuals at a higher weight experience greater victimization and exclusion by peers, and limited research suggests that the salience of one's body image may increase negative emotional reactions to social rejection.

    Social anxiety and weight interact with body salience to affect experiences of social exclusion · 2024 · DOI

  • However, the effects of observed ostracism on risky and ambiguous decision-making and the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear.

    Distinct neural dynamics of the observed ostracism effect in decision-making under risk and ambiguity · 2024 · DOI

  • Limited studies have explored the combined influence of emotional intelligence, coping strategies, and rejection sensitivity on young adults. The study aims to address this gap by examining the relationships between these constructs.

    Emotional intelligence, coping strategies and rejection sensitivity among young adults · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should continue to explore the complex factors contributing to death threat behavior. Studies should investigate the role of modern digital environments in amplifying online hostility and radicalized identity formation.

    The Psychology of Death Threats: A Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Analysis of Trauma, Aggression, Narcissistic Injury, Radicalization, Power Dynamics, Online Hostility, Moral Disengagement, and Violence Risk among Individuals Who Make Death Threats under the MCA–IFS Framework · 2026 · DOI

  • The current understanding of death threat behavior is limited by simplistic categorizations of threat-makers. There is a need for a comprehensive interdisciplinary analysis of the psychological mechanisms behind death threat behavior.

    The Psychology of Death Threats: A Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Analysis of Trauma, Aggression, Narcissistic Injury, Radicalization, Power Dynamics, Online Hostility, Moral Disengagement, and Violence Risk among Individuals Who Make Death Threats under the MCA–IFS Framework · 2026 · DOI

  • The study seeks to fill a literature gap by examining existential nihilism and its relationship with spiritual well-being and sub-clinical depression, especially among young adults. The investigation considers the bidirectional link between existential nihilism and depression, highlighting how spiritual well-being can help lessen these impacts.

    SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING, EXISTENTIAL NIHILISM & SUB-CLINICAL DEPRESSION IN YOUNG ADULTS · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of research on the association between mentalizing and meaning in life in nurses. Prior studies have not examined the relationships between mentalization and meaning in life in a professional group exposed to emotional and existential strain.

    Ability to mentalize and the sense of meaning in life in the professional group of nurses: a cross-sectional study · 2026 · DOI

  • The study used a small, non-random convenience sample from 1 region of Poland, which limits generalizability and increases uncertainty around effect estimates. The cross-sectional design precludes causal inference. Because recruitment relied on open invitations (mailing lists/posters), a response rate could not be established and self-selection bias is possible.

    Ability to mentalize and the sense of meaning in life in the professional group of nurses: a cross-sectional study · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of research on the relationship between religious coping, burnout, and emotional eating. The study aims to fill this gap by investigating the mediating role of perceived stress and loneliness in this relationship.

    The Mediating Role of Perceived Stress and Loneliness in the Relationship Between Religious Coping, Burnout, and Emotional Eating · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of understanding of the mediating role of meaningful living between desperation, boredom, and self-transcendence. The need for further research on the complex relationships between these psychological constructs.

    The Mediating Role of Meaningful Living Between Desperation and Boredom and Self-Transcendence · 2026 · DOI

  • Aging anxiety can have a significant impact on women's mental health and well-being. The pressure to conform to societal beauty standards can contribute to aging anxiety. The lack of understanding about the relationship between aging anxiety and self-compassion can make it challenging to develop effective interventions.

    Aging Anxiety Among Women in Mid-Adulthood: Self-Compassion Effects via Appearance-Contingent Self-Worth and Appearance Satisfaction · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of understanding about the relationship between aging anxiety and self-compassion in women in mid-adulthood. The study aims to fill this gap by examining the associations between aging anxiety and self-compassion.

    Aging Anxiety Among Women in Mid-Adulthood: Self-Compassion Effects via Appearance-Contingent Self-Worth and Appearance Satisfaction · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in the literature regarding the relationships among perceived stress, difficulties in emotion regulation, psychological symptoms, and spiritual well-being in university students. The study also identifies a gap in the literature regarding the moderating role of spiritual well-being between emotion regulation difficulties and psychological symptoms.

    EXAMINING THE MODERATED MEDIATION EFFECT OF SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING ON STRESS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS THROUGH EMOTION REGULATION · 2026 · DOI

  • Future studies should employ Representational Similarity Analysis (RSA) to compare the geometric structure of mortality-related processes across levels. Future research should integrate micro, meso, and macro data into high-dimensional representational spaces.

    Editorial: Mortality saliency and mental health: how could awareness of death promote well-being? · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies the need to develop effective intervention strategies that advance successful aging and end-of-life education.

    With strength and breath, i laugh at death: a cross-sectional survey on involvement in recreational sport, resocialization, and well-dying perception among older adults · 2026 · DOI

  • The study highlights the need for more research on the mechanisms underlying the formation of end-of-life awareness among the elderly.

    With strength and breath, i laugh at death: a cross-sectional survey on involvement in recreational sport, resocialization, and well-dying perception among older adults · 2026 · DOI

  • The psychological mechanisms driving the 'lying flat' movement remain underexplored. There is a lack of research on the association between mortality salience and 'lying flat' discourse.

    Deciphering the association between mortality salience and the “lying flat” movement: a social media analysis · 2026 · DOI

  • The study's findings may be limited by the lack of generalizability to other populations.

    Advanced Meditators’ Meaning, Sense, and Emotions Related to the End of Life · 2026 · DOI

  • Prior studies have focused on the connection between the Dark Triad and IPV, but not specifically on future psychological IPV perpetration.

    The Dark Triad predicts future psychological intimate partner violence perpetration through ostracism · 2026 · DOI

  • Adolescence represents a developmental period during which self-awareness undergoes rapid differentiation, identity construction remains incomplete, and the emotion regulation system is still maturing.

    Existential distress and social alienation in adolescents with allergic rhinitis: the serial mediating roles of psychological inflexibility and experiential avoidance · 2026 · DOI

  • Traditional terror management research has largely examined death anxiety through isolated variables at a single psychological level, neglecting the holistic, networked nature of existential defenses.

    Editorial: Mortality saliency and mental health: how could awareness of death promote well-being? · 2026 · DOI

  • Prior studies have reported varying levels of prenatal attachment in high-risk pregnancies.

    The relationship between prenatal attachment and death anxiety in high-risk pregnancies · 2026 · DOI

  • Existing research on mortality salience (MS) and prosocial behavior demonstrates inconsistent findings, suggesting potential moderation by psychological variables.

    Temporal Perspective and Prosocial Behavior Under Mortality Salience: Evidence from Chinese University Students · 2025 · DOI

  • Finally, sample size was determined using a rule-of-thumb approach rather than an SEM-specific ARTICLE…

    The association of positive and negative affect with care dependence in elderly patients with senile cataract: the mediating role of self-regulatory fatigue · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion

Most recent work

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) The neurocognitive mechanisms underlying language-based implicit modulation of social pain remain poorly understood (“Language-based labeling modulates oscillatory neural dynamics of social pain…”, 2026); (2) Future research should continue to explore the complex factors contributing to death threat behavior (“The Psychology of Death Threats: A Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Analysis of…”, 2026); (3) There is a lack of research on the association between mentalizing and meaning in life in nurses (“Ability to mentalize and the sense of meaning in life in the professional group…”, 2026); (4) There is a lack of research on the relationship between religious coping, burnout, and emotional eating (“The Mediating Role of Perceived Stress and Loneliness in the Relationship…”, 2026); (5) The lack of understanding of the mediating role of meaningful living between desperation, boredom, and self-transcendence (“The Mediating Role of Meaningful Living Between Desperation and Boredom and…”, 2026). 252 gap statements have been mined from Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 1,744 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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