Encouraging living will completion using social norms and family benefit

Abstract

Advance directives, such as a living will, can help families control their medical treatments and, in some cases, appropriately limit end-of-life medical expenses. However, usage of such documents remains relatively low. Applying concepts from Terror Management Theory, this study randomly assigned 1,771 online participants to living will descriptions referencing social norms, family benefit, both, or neither. References to family benefit alone significantly increased intentions to complete docu- ments among men, but non-significantly decreased intentions among women. References to social norms alone modestly increased intentions for both groups. Combining references to both family benefit and social norms generated the largest increase.