Exploring the meaning of life from the perspective of patients with depression: A phenomenological study

Zeng, Yi-Yun; Long, Ann; Chiang, Chun‐Ying; Chiu, Nan-Tsing; Sun, Fan‐Ko

doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2021.06.004

Cited by 5 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 40 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The presented findings coincide with the consistent pattern encountered in previous empirical and clinical research where meaning in life plays a predictive role in mental health and overall well-being [65,[74][75][76]. This role results from the intrinsic nature attributed by various authors to the sense of meaning in life.…”

Section: Meaning In Life and Depressionsupporting

confidence: 90%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Anxiety and Depression in a Non-Clinical Sample of Young Polish Adults: Presence of Meaning in Life as a Mediator

Szczęśniak

Falewicz

Strochalska

et al. 2022

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Early adulthood, between 18 and 25, is viewed as a decisive period of life for the prevention and treatment of anxiety and depression. Although the topic of their mutual relationship is well-known, little has been uncovered about the mechanism underlying this connection. To understand the indirect pathways between anxiety and depression, we chose the sense of meaning of life as a mediator because people’s beliefs that their lives are or can be purposeful may protect against depression. The sample was composed of 277 Polish young adults. A small majority of the participants were women (58.8%). The mean age was M = 22.11 (SD = 1.72). We used in the research the Direct Behavior Rating-Scale Items Scale, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, and the Brief Screen for Depression. Correlational analysis showed that, consistent with past findings, anxiety correlated positively with depression and searching for meaning. It was also negatively associated with presence of meaning. Moreover, depression was negatively linked to presence of meaning and positively with searching for meaning. Regression-based mediation analyses (PROCESS macro 3.4) proved that the relationship between anxiety and depression was mediated by presence of meaning in life, suggesting that having a sense of meaning may be a pathway by which feelings of tension relative to adverse events protect against depression.

show abstract

Section: Meaning In Life and Depressionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…In turn, lack of meaning was found to relate to psychopathology [73]. For example, patients with depression felt their lives to be meaningless and worthless, expressing destructive thoughts or attempting suicide [74].…”

Section: Meaning In Life and Depressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anxiety and Depression in a Non-Clinical Sample of Young Polish Adults: Presence of Meaning in Life as a Mediator

Szczęśniak

Falewicz

Strochalska

et al. 2022

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Furthermore, participants described the feeling that they had lost control of their lives directly or indirectly. Thoughts of suicide may indicate that they were trying to regain control or that because they felt they had lost their sense of self and identity, suicide was a viable option as a way out of what they were experiencing (Zeng et al., 2021). Study participants may escape the emotional pain as identified in other studies (Verrocchio et al., 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“It was a reflection of myself, that i was weak”: The impact of depression on the sense of self – An interpretive phenomenological analysis

O'Mahony,

Happell,

O'Connell

2024

Int J Mental Health Nurs

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The World Health Organisation states that more than 350 million people experience depression globally. The phenomenological changes in individuals experiencing depression are profound Phenomenological research can further researchers' and clinicians' understanding of this experience. This study aimed to gain a phenomenological understanding of how individuals with depression understood and made sense of their experiences. A methodology of interpretative phenomenological analysis was adopted. In‐depth semi‐structured interviews explored the lived experience of depression for eight individuals. Data were analysed into the superordinate theme Broken Self – Transforming the Self. The superordinate theme developed from the subordinate themes of ‘unknown self, loss of self and one's identity’, ‘desperate for a way out’, and thirdly, ‘conflict with self and what's known’, which related directly to how individuals made sense of their experience of depression. These research findings highlight the human implications of the experience of depression and the limitations of viewing depression from a biological or medical model lens. Understanding the human impact is essential for the effective, holistic practice of mental health nursing.

show abstract

“…Happiness can only be achieved by developing a defense mechanism (Freud, 1993). For example, in a sample of depressed patients, there is evidence that awareness of the meaning of personal life can be a defense mechanism (Zeng et al, 2021).…”

Section: Meaning Of Lifementioning

confidence: 99%

Developing the Meaning of Life Model: Introduction of the Main Components of the Model Structure

Dombrovskis¹,

Ignatjeva²,

Berga³

2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The debate about the meaning of life in the literature has been around for a while and portraits a fundamental human need to find a personal path of existence. The meaning of life phenomenon purpose lies in its impact on the psychological wellbeing. Knowing your purpose in life can make it more structured and in balance, therefore more meaningful and comprehensible. However, in the existing body of the academic literature meaning of life is discussed more from the philosophic perspective rather than a practical area, which is not helping to solve the global issues of increasing mental health problems. When social and emotional wellbeing is being affected, it is urgent to apply a practical approach to effectively overcome these states. Introduction of a new, holistic meaning of life model is an attempt to offer a practical solution for society to maintain their mental health through awareness of their life’s purpose. Previously in the pilot study (Dombrovskis, 2017) in a sample group of 100 citizens of Latvia who self-reported being in a crisis situation at the given moment, using qualitive analysis the first component for the model structure was identified – antecedent. In our research antecedent is defined as something that triggers certain action, so in crisis situation person can regain a structure and stability in life. We found 8 different antecedents that trigger behavior of those affected by crisis: achievements; power; success; development; freedom; uniqueness; interesting life and fleeing. To continue to explore other components for our model in the setting of Latvia, this study aims to investigate the demographic and personality related variables that may serve as antecedents and as such become one of component in our model structure. The study used a sample of residents of Latvia representing the total population of 1,110 respondents (633 women, 57%, and 477 men, 43%) who have completed the self-assessment questionnaire Meaning of life scale (MOLS) (online and frontally) designed by the authors on their satisfaction with different factors regarding the meaning of life. Average age of respondents (M=33.88; SD=8,527) varied from 18 to 67. The exploratory and confirmatory analysis confirms the data regarding existence of totally 16 factors: 8 antecedents identified in the pilot study and 8 new antecedents identified in the present study - family relations; level of income; relations with friends/acquaintances; state of health; organization of free time; career growth (achievements); sexual life quality and quality of education. Findings confirm a model’s structure to be complex phenomenon consisting of various components. However, findings suggest that more research should be done to fill the following gaps: 1) identify actions, which are triggered by 16 antecedents; 2) figure out F1, F2 and F3 factor role in the model structure.

show abstract

Exploring the meaning of life from the perspective of patients with depression: A phenomenological study

Cited by 5 publications

References 40 publications

Anxiety and Depression in a Non-Clinical Sample of Young Polish Adults: Presence of Meaning in Life as a Mediator

Anxiety and Depression in a Non-Clinical Sample of Young Polish Adults: Presence of Meaning in Life as a Mediator

“It was a reflection of myself, that i was weak”: The impact of depression on the sense of self – An interpretive phenomenological analysis

Developing the Meaning of Life Model: Introduction of the Main Components of the Model Structure

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About