How meaningful is meaning-making?

Kopacz, Marek S.; Lockman, Jennifer; Lusk, Jaimie; Bryan, Craig J.; Park, Crystal L.; Sheu, Susan C.; Gibson, William C.

doi:10.1016/j.newideapsych.2019.02.001

Cited by 22 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…For example, the meaning-making model defines moral injury as suffering related to an inability to regulate moral pain. This model suggests that moral injury occurs as a result of dissonance between an individual's sense of purpose, identity, beliefs and values and their evaluation of the transgressive experience (Kopacz et al, 2019). The functional model of moral injury acknowledges that dysphoria may have a protective purpose following a moral transgression and conceptualizes moral responses as normative, rather than pathological (Farnsworth et al, 2017).…”

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confidence: 99%

Moral injury, mental health and behavioural health outcomes: A systematic review of the literature

Hall

Everson

Billingsley

et al. 2021

Clin Psychology and Psychoth

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Despite a burgeoning of research on moral injury in the past decade, existing reviews have not explored the breadth of consequences and the multitude of pathways through which moral injury and potentially morally injurious experiences (PMIEs) influence mental and behavioural health outcomes. This study aimed to identify associations between moral injury on mental and behavioural health. Literature searches of psychological and medical databases were conducted through April 2020. Eligible studies measured moral injury or PMIEs, and health outcomes (e.g., depression, substance use and suicidality). Fifty-seven publications representing 49 separate samples were included. Studies examined the impact of moral injury on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (n = 43); depression (n = 32); anxiety (n = 15); suicide (n = 15); substance use (n = 14); and 'other'health outcomes, including pain, burnout, sleep disturbance and treatment-seeking behaviours (n = 11). The majority of studies found significant positive associations between moral injury-related constructs, mental health and behavioural health outcomes; however, the majority were also cross-sectional and focused on military samples. Proposed mediators included lack of social support, negative cognitions and meaning-making. Moderators included self-compassion, pre-deployment mental health education and mindfulness. Moral injury is associated with a variety of negative health outcomes. Research is needed to determine the mechanisms by which moral injury may influence these outcomes over time.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Moral injury, mental health and behavioural health outcomes: A systematic review of the literature

Hall

Everson

Billingsley

et al. 2021

Clin Psychology and Psychoth

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Although we might expect some universality and similarity in terms of the environmental conditions in which the traumatic experience happens, there are differences in the way individuals talk about their war experiences and how they relate to them (International Center for Transitional Justice [ICTJ], 2014). In this regard, while understanding the short and long term consequences of those who experienced torture, violence, traumatic experiences of escape and many other forms of maltreatment is important, it is of crucial importance to also understand the process of meaning making of these experiences (Kopacz et al., 2019; Park, 2010). Park and Ai (2006) developed a conceptual theoretical framework to help explain how growth can result from meaning-making process of coping after trauma with the specific focus on global meaning and appraised meanings.…”

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confidence: 99%

Meaning-Making of War Experiences: Stories From Kosova

et al. 2020

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The research evidence shows that war had many detrimental effects on the mental health, wellbeing, and social functioning of the people of Kosova, which is similar to the findings in many other postconflict societies. However, there are few studies focusing on the process of meaning-making of war experiences and their impacts on resilience and growth. This phenomenological study aimed to explore the lived war experiences of citizens of Kosova from the perspectives of three generations (grandparents, parents and children) through semistructured interviews, which were conducted with 37 participants. Thematic analysis revealed that the journey of the meaning-making of war experiences in Kosova is rather dynamic and reflects the context in which each generational cohort lived and grew. The findings provide a deeper understanding of the strategies used by each generation for meaning-making and how these strategies contributed to resilience and growth. The implications for mental health counselors, social workers, and policymakers are discussed.

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“…These findings add to a growing body of literature that supports extending study and care of those exposed to Potentially Morally Injurious Events (PMIEs) beyond the traditional fear-based pathology that characterizes PTSD. For example, VA chaplains are known to support Veterans with a high prevalence and high perceived intensity of PMIEs, relative to other military and Veteran groups (Kopacz et al 2019). Accounting for both the content and way in which individuals hold their belief system or worldview (psychospiritual development) provides relevant insight into the understanding of how people from different religions, belief systems, races, cultures, ethnicities, and genders experience potentially morally injurious events.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychospiritual Developmental Risk Factors for Moral Injury

et al. 2020

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There is increasing theoretical, clinical, and empirical support for the hypothesis that psychospiritual development, and more specifically, postconventional religious reasoning, may be related to moral injury. In this study, we assessed the contributions of exposure to potentially morally injurious events, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and psychospiritual development to moral injury symptoms in a sample of military veterans (N = 212). Psychospiritual development was measured as four dimensions, based on Wulff’s theory juxtaposing conventional vs. postconventional levels of religious reasoning, with decisions to be an adherent or a disaffiliate of faith. After controlling for exposure to potentially morally injurious events and severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms, veterans who were conventional disaffiliates reported higher scores on the Moral Injury Questionnaire than conventional adherents, postconventional adherents, or postconventional disaffiliates. We conclude that the role of psychospiritual development offers a theoretical approach to moral injury that invites collaboration between social scientists, philosophers, theologians, and medical professionals.

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How meaningful is meaning-making?

Cited by 22 publications

References 51 publications

Moral injury, mental health and behavioural health outcomes: A systematic review of the literature

Moral injury, mental health and behavioural health outcomes: A systematic review of the literature

Meaning-Making of War Experiences: Stories From Kosova

Psychospiritual Developmental Risk Factors for Moral Injury

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