By comparing the findings from Kalish's and Reynolds's landmark 1970's Death and Ethnicity Study to their own present study, Hayslip and Peveto examine the impact of cultural change on death attitudes.

With a focus on African-American, Asian-American, and Hispanic-American subpopulations, with Caucasians treated as a comparison group, the authors come to several conclusions, including:

• the shift toward more interest in being informed of one's own terminal prognosis
• a more personal approach to funerals and mourning observances
• a greater focus on family and relationships