Chinese University Students' Death Attitudes and Their Initial Sandplay Characteristics

Launched by KAI HUANG · Jun 5, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how university students in China feel about death and how these feelings can be expressed through a type of therapy called sandplay therapy. The researchers want to understand the differences between people's direct feelings about death (like fear or acceptance) and their more hidden feelings, which might not be immediately obvious. They will recruit about 100 students aged 18 to 22 who are not religious and have normal vision. Participants should also have no history of serious mental health issues or recent traumatic losses.

If you join the study, you will complete a couple of tests: one that measures your open feelings about death and another that looks at your underlying feelings. You will also create a sandplay scene, which is a way of expressing your thoughts and emotions through sand and miniature objects. The researchers will analyze your responses to better understand how these feelings about death may relate to the sandplay you create. It’s an interesting opportunity to explore your feelings in a supportive environment!

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • Inclusion Criteria Be aged 18-22 years (20 ± 2 years old) Self-identified as Han Chinese ethnicity Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student Normal or corrected-to-normal vision No prior participation in similar psychological experiments (e.g., IAT, sandplay therapy) Proficient in basic computer operations (e.g., keyboard use, mouse navigation) Willing to provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria Presence of diagnosed psychiatric disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder, PTSD) Regular use of psychotropic medications within the past 6 months Religious affiliation or spiritual practices influencing death-related beliefs History of traumatic bereavement (e.g., loss of immediate family member within 1 year) Physical disabilities affecting sandplay manipulation (e.g., severe hand tremor)