Terror management theory outlines how humans seek self-esteem and worldview validation to manage death-related anxiety. Accumulating evidence reveals that close relationships serve a similar role. However, to date, there has been no synthesis of the literature that delineates when close relationships buffer mortality concerns, under what conditions, on which specific outcomes, and for whom. This systematic review presents over two decades of research to address these questions. Findings from 73 reviewed studies revealed that close relationships serve an important role in buffering death-related anxiety. A range of dispositional and situational moderating factors influence either the activation or inhibition of relational strivings to manage heightened death awareness, the most influential being attachment, gender, and relationship-contingent self-esteem. These findings were integrated into an overarching model that highlights some of the conditions under which mortality salience (MS) influences relational outcomes. We conclude by highlighting a range of theoretical and methodological concerns to be addressed by future research.

恐怖管理理论概述了人类如何寻求自尊和世界观验证来处理与死亡相关的焦虑。越来越多的证据表明，亲密关系起着相似的作用。但是，迄今为止，还没有文献能够描述亲密关系何时缓解死亡率问题，在什么条件下，在哪些具体结果上以及针对谁的问题。这篇系统的综述提出了超过二十年的研究来解决这些问题。来自73篇综述性研究的结果表明，亲密关系在缓冲与死亡相关的焦虑中起着重要作用。一系列的性情和情境调节因素会影响关系努力的激活或抑制，以管理更高的死亡意识，其中最有影响力的是依恋，性别，以及与关系有关的自尊。这些发现被整合到一个总体模型中，该模型突出了死亡率显着性（MS）影响关系结局的某些条件。最后，我们着重强调了未来研究将要解决的一系列理论和方法问题。