Unveiling the Depths of Existential Inquiry: A Qualitative Examination of Psychological Literature (2000-2023)

Abstract

Introduction: This is a continuation of the previous article, “Exploring Existential Questions: A Comprehensive Review of Psychological Literature (2000-2023) – Part 1”, the aim of which, following on from an analysis that was more quantitative in nature, is to present the results of a more in-depth analysis of the articles by means of a qualitative and/or mixed approach, published between 2000 and 2023, with the aim of understanding how Psychology has appropriated the themes of existential vacuum and meaning of life over this period. Method: Of the group of articles studied in Part I, only articles with qualitative or mixed approaches were analyzed in this second phase, in accordance with the following aspects: year of publication, theoretical references used in the articles, concepts employed in the studies, context and studied populations, emerging themes and relationship between the topic and psychotherapy, religiosity and spirituality.Results:Of the 264 articles selected in Part 1, 191 quantitative articles were excluded, leaving 73 articles with a qualitative or mixed approach, initially classified as follows: 46 theoretical/qualitative, 17 empirical/qualitative, 7 mixed and 3 interventions.