The relationship between meaning in life and post-traumatic stress symptoms in US military personnel: A meta-analysis

Fischer, Ian C.; Shanahan, Mackenzie L.; Hirsh, Adam T.; Stewart, Jesse C.; Rand, Kevin L.

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2020.08.063

Cited by 42 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 120 publications

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“…In the current study, PTG was also found to positively correlate with all domains of life meaningfulness in cancer survivors. between PTSD and the meaning of life has been consistently found in other studies (Fischer et al, 2020). It seems that the process of meaning-making is important in both posttraumatic reactions and could be crucial in the process of the stress-growth balance (Ochoa-Arnedo et al, 2019).…”

Section: Correlates Of Ptg and Ptsdsupporting

confidence: 64%

Cancer-related Posttraumatic growth and Posttraumatic stress: Different Correlates and Different Network Structure in Patients with Cancer and Cancer Survivors

Baník¹,

Dědová²,

Vargová³

2022

Preprint

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A cancer diagnosis is a stressful life event that could lead to higher levels of psychological distress. As a result of its traumatic nature, cancer could trigger certain posttraumatic reactions. The most examined posttraumatic reactions in cancer are posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as the negative changes and posttraumatic growth (PTG) as the positive changes. PTSD and PTG can coexist with each other and have some shared and different correlates. PTSD, PTG, their relationships and their correlates have mostly been studied in mixed samples of patients having cancer treatment and as well as cancer survivors. The present study explored PTSD, PTG, their correlates and their interconnection in separate samples of patients in active treatment (N = 181) and cancer survivors (N = 419). It examined various types of correlates such as sociodemographic (e.g., gender, age), cancer-related (e.g., relapse, late treatment impact), coping (e.g., anxious preoccupation, fighting spirit), emotional (e.g., pain, depression), personality factors (e.g., neuroticism, resilience), eudaimonic (e.g., meaningfulness), social (e.g., regular attendance of cancer support group) and spiritual (e.g., the practice of spirituality). In addition, network models of PTSD, PTG and PTSD-PTG were estimated and compared in both samples. There were different correlates of PTSD and PTG found in patients and survivors. From the network perspective, PTG and PTSD were linked in different patterns in both groups. These results highlight which correlates of posttraumatic reactions are important for patients in treatment and for cancer survivors. The results also depict which PTSD symptoms and PTG indicators are most important in the PTG-PTSD interconnection amongst patients and survivors.

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Section: Correlates Of Ptg and Ptsdsupporting

confidence: 64%

Cancer-related Posttraumatic growth and Posttraumatic stress: Different Correlates and Different Network Structure in Patients with Cancer and Cancer Survivors

Baník¹,

Dědová²,

Vargová³

2022

Preprint

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“…Surprisingly, unlike other measures of well‐being, veterans' levels of meaning in life in our sample were comparable to those of civilian counterparts (see Fischer et al, 2020; Park et al, 2020). This may be because while military service may take a toll on physical and mental health, it may also prompt a sense of being in service to something larger than oneself, a type of transcendence that may increase a sense of purpose or meaning in life (George & Park, 2016).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 53%

Post‐9/11 military veterans' adjustment to civilian life over time following separation from service

et al. 2021

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Objectives US military veterans face many challenges in transitioning to civilian life; little information is available regarding veterans' reintegration experiences over time. The current study characterized veterans' postdeployment stressful life events and concurrent psychosocial wellbeing over one year and determined how stressors and wellbeing differ by demographic factors. Methods Recent Post‐911 veterans (n = 402) were assessed approximately every three months for 1 year. Participants were 60% men, primarily White (78%), and 12% Latinx; the average age was 36 years. Results The frequency of stressful events decreased over time but was higher for men and minority‐race veterans (independent of time since separation). Veterans reported high mean levels of posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms, which improved slightly over time. Minority‐race and Latinx veterans had higher symptom levels and slower rates of symptom reduction. Conclusion Veterans remain distressed in their overall transition to civilian life. Interventions to promote resilience and help veterans manage readjustment to civilian life appear urgently needed.

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“…Sources of meaning are areas of life from which people draw meaning and in which they invest their energy ( Steger, 2017 ; Fischer et al., 2020 ). When participants were asked to talk about the sources of meaning in their lives, they described a wide diversity of sources.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meaning in life and impact of COVID-19 pandemic on African immigrants in the United States

Ekwonye

Ezumah

Nwosisi

2021

Wellbeing, Space and Society

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This study explored the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic impact, with its unprecedented isolation norm and social distancing requirements, on African immigrants in the United States. We focused on the sources of meaning in their daily lives, how they navigated their meaning-making process, and cultural proclivities amidst the official and unofficial mandates for social distancing. Additionally, we investigated the role technologies play in the entire process. A qualitative inquiry conducted virtually generated data from a sample of 20 participants. Results show that African immigrants derive meaning from social relationships, personal life goals, religious faith, service, and good health. The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly threatened participants' core meaning sources, which they rely on for life satisfaction, personal growth, and healing. Various emergent technologies helped in ameliorating the situation by providing conduits for participants to engage, albeit virtually, in most activities that positively impact their lives. This study highlights clinicians' need to integrate meaning in life discussions in their African immigrant patients' care and incorporate congruent technologies as needed.

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The relationship between meaning in life and post-traumatic stress symptoms in US military personnel: A meta-analysis

Cited by 42 publications

References 120 publications

Cancer-related Posttraumatic growth and Posttraumatic stress: Different Correlates and Different Network Structure in Patients with Cancer and Cancer Survivors

Cancer-related Posttraumatic growth and Posttraumatic stress: Different Correlates and Different Network Structure in Patients with Cancer and Cancer Survivors

Post‐9/11 military veterans' adjustment to civilian life over time following separation from service

Meaning in life and impact of COVID-19 pandemic on African immigrants in the United States

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