Factor structure of the multidimensional orientation toward dying and death inventory among Hong Kong college students: a preliminary study

Abstract

This study examines the factor structures of the Chinese version of the Multidimensional Orientation Toward Dying and Death Inventory (MODDI-F/ chin), originally established in German language, in a sample of Hong Kong college students (n = 256). Both confirmatory factor analysis and exploratory factor analysis were performed to examine the factor structures of the MODDI-F/ chin. The results showed that, identical to the German version, the MODDI-F/chin consisted of a 5-factor Fear domain and a 3-factor Acceptance domain. The fear of another person's dying was the weakest of the four factors in the Hong Kong sample but represented the first and strongest factor in the German sample of the original study. Although preliminary and not representative of mainland China, our results show that the factor structure of attitudes toward dying and death that had been established empirically with German people can be replicated with Chinese students of Hong Kong.