Purpose This study aimed to investigate 2 dimensions of meaning in life—Presence of Meaning (i.e., the perception of your life as significant, purposeful, and valuable) and Search for Meaning (i.e., the strength, intensity, and activity of people's efforts to establish or increase their understanding of the meaning in their lives)—and their role for the well-being of chronically ill patients. Research design A sample of 481 chronically ill patients (M = 50 years, SD = 7.26) completed measures on meaning in life, life satisfaction, optimism, and acceptance. We hypothesized that Presence of Meaning and Search for Meaning will have specific relations with all 3 aspects of well-being. Results Cluster analysis was used to examine meaning in life profiles. Results supported 4 distinguishable profiles (High Presence High Search, Low Presence High Search, High Presence Low Search, and Low Presence Low Search) with specific patterns in relation to well-being and acceptance. Specifically, the 2 profiles in which meaning is present showed higher levels of well-being and acceptance, whereas the profiles in which meaning is absent are characterized by lower levels. Furthermore, the results provided some clarification on the nature of the Search for Meaning process by distinguishing between adaptive (the High Presence High Search cluster) and maladaptive (the Low Presence High Search cluster) searching for meaning in life. Conclusions The present study provides an initial glimpse in how meaning in life may be related to the well-being of chronically ill patients and the acceptance of their condition. Clinical implications are discussed.
The peer-reviewed journal publishes original and new results on environmental and ecological science with applications to the sustainable complex ecosystem management. The aim of the journal is to provide a place for a rapid exchange of new ideas and concepts for scientists and engineers in environments and ecology with management. Manuscripts in environmental accounting and managements are solicited, including mathematical modeling, and computational and management techniques in environmental, ecological, energy and information science, technology and engineering, such as agricultural, urban, coastal, riparian, wetland ecosystems. Topics of interest in ecosystems include but not limited to Accounting in environmental economics, ecosystem service evaluation, energy and resource, social factors and management. Modeling in environmental conservation and restoration, eco-hydrology and water resources management, ecological process and pattern, climate change effects, environmental engineering and technology. Planning and management in human dimension-institutions and patterns for socioeconomic systems, ecological informatics for ecosystems, landscape design, and urban planning Environmental policy, legislation, and innovations with environmental and strategic impact assessment, project appraisal and auditing, and environmental protection. No length limitations for contributions are set, but only concisely written manuscripts are published. Brief papers are published on the basis of Technical Notes. Discussions of previous published papers are welcome. No length limitations for contributions are set, but only concisely written manuscripts are published. Brief papers are published on the basis of Technical Notes. Discussions of previous published papers are welcome. Peer Review Journal of Environmental Accounting and Management adopts the traditional blind-review policy in which the reviewers' names are concealed for submission author(s) for free submission. Each submitted manuscript is reviewed at least two referees in appropriate fields. In addition, the editorial board members' recommendation or established experts' recommendation publication are welcome.
The decline in numbers of religious in the West is discussed in numerous studies. While there is a consensus about the statistical reality of decreasing numbers, scholars disagree about the alleged reasons for this decline. This article maps the field and presents a survey of four categories of answers to the question of why religious life declined during the twentieth century. A distinction is made between theories that ascribe the decline to (1) historical, (2) societal, (3) ecclesial, and (4) theological reasons. The first category views the decline as part of a historical-cyclical pattern of growth and decline. The second encompasses explanations that focus on secularization, professionalization, or new societal opportunities for women. Thirdly, post-conciliar church-organizational reasons will be discussed. Finally, pre-conciliar theology is investigated as a potential reason for the decline. While none of the reasons discussed here can be excluded from at least contributing to the decline, we demonstrate that some authors are mistaken in their conclusions due to misinterpreting data in a way that obscures the possibility of an emerging decline before the statistics peak in 1965 (which marks the end of the Council). We also demonstrate how theology has been an underestimated but significant influence on the statistics of religious life.
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