Paul Tillich\u27S Theory Of Existential Anxiety: A Preliminary Conceptual And Empirical Examination

This paper conceptually explores Paul Tillich\u27s theory of existential anxiety and examines existing research relevant to each of Tillich\u27s domains of existential apprehension. This paper also reports data from two initial empirical studies of Tillich\u27s model of existential anxiety and its relation to symptoms of anxiety and depression. A self-report measure of existential anxiety, the Existential Anxiety Questionnaire (EAQ) based on Tillich\u27s conceptualization, was developed and data were collected from two socioeconomic and ethnically diverse samples of adults (Study 1, N = 225; Study 2, N = 331). Results indicated that the EAQ has good test-retest and internal consistency reliability and a factor structure consistent with theory. The EAQ also demonstrated good convergent and incremental validity estimates. The data suggest that existential anxiety concerns are common and that they are associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression as well as psychological distress related to identity problems. Results are discussed with regard to their support for the viability of employing Tillich\u27s theory in empirical research on existential anxiety and the importance of further exploring the relation between existential anxiety concerns and other facets of emotional experience such as clinical anxiety and depression