Beliefs and Emotions Underpin Community Attitudes Towards Voluntary Assisted Dying in Australia.

This article examines the Australian community’s attitudes toward Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) and the psychological components underpinning these attitudes, using the Tripartite Model of Attitudes, which includes beliefs, emotions, experiences, and knowledge. Based on a survey of 108 Australian adults, the study found that positive attitudes toward VAD were significantly explained by individuals’ beliefs and emotions, while experiences with VAD and knowledge about its practices were low and did not significantly influence attitudes. The findings highlight the importance of educating the community about VAD policies and practices to support informed decision-making and suggest that health professionals should consider the emotional and belief-based foundations of attitudes when discussing VAD with patients and families. The study also notes differences in attitude underpinnings between the general community and health professionals, and calls for further research on the roles of religion, education, and cultural factors in shaping attitudes toward assisted dying.