Meaning in Life among Older Adults: An Integrative Model

Greenblatt‐Kimron, Lee; Kagan, Maya; Zychlinski, Ester

doi:10.3390/ijerph192416762

Cited by 4 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…Those with high loneliness reported a reduced presence of meaning in life, which was linked to increased depression. In the first half of the path, loneliness was significantly negatively associated with the presence of meaning among older adults, which is consistent with previous findings [ 31 , 50 , 51 ]. In the second half of the mediating path, the presence of meaning is significantly associated with depressive symptoms, which is supported by previous research [ 24 , 47 , 52 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“Meaning in Life” Mediates the Relationship between Loneliness and Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Kim,

Chun

2024

Healthcare

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Background: Loneliness was found to be a commonly experienced feeling among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and is considered to be a high-risk factor for depressive symptoms. Maintaining meaning in life has been found to be a protective resource for mental health among older adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effects of an individual’s meaning in life in the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms among older Korean adults. Methods: The data were obtained from a sample of 213 community-dwelling older adults aged over 65. The instruments were the UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire. Results: Loneliness was positively associated with depressive symptoms and negatively associated with the presence of and search for meaning among older adults. The presence of meaning mediated the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms but the search for meaning did not. The search for meaning mediated the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms through the presence of meaning. Conclusions: Our study findings suggest that efforts to reduce loneliness and improve meaning in life should be undertaken to prevent depressive symptoms among older adults.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“Meaning in Life” Mediates the Relationship between Loneliness and Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Kim,

Chun

2024

Healthcare

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“…It is worth highlighting that, in this study, age is a negative predictor of PIL, which is somehow aligned with the available evidence which indicates a deterioration of the purpose with increasing age [ 2 , 19 , 22 , 46 , 47 ], even in participants still working [ 46 ]. Those who still work during the aging period have a lesser sense of purpose and meaning in life once their activity may be due to financial needs more than a source of meaning or purpose in life [ 46 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…The retired participants are older, so more often, age may weigh on their purpose in life and process of self-acceptance. They may be widowed and more lonely, and, on the other hand, the lack of physical and cognitive skills, technological skills, and socioeconomic limitations can limit the social circles and sense of belonging of the elderly [ 46 , 47 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies have shown that having a purpose and meaning in life empowers the execution of activities in older adults, making him/her feel well and in control of decisions about his/her life, providing a sense of self-realization and motivational power that helps him/her have a more optimistic outlook on his/her life experiences [ 46 , 51 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biopsychosocial Factors That Influence the Purpose in Life among Working Adults and Retirees

Coelho

Lopes

Barata

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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This study aimed to identify and characterize biopsychosocial factors that impact the purpose in life (PIL) among adults that are working or already retired. This cross-sectional study includes a sample of 1330 participants, of whom 62.2% were female, with ages ranging from 55 and 84 years, with a mean of 61.93 years and a standard deviation of 7.65. Results suggest that the education level, stress, spirituality (religion) and optimism, social support from friends, and quality of life related to physical health seem to contribute positively to the PIL for both groups. However, some variables such as age, marital status and environmental quality of life help explain the PIL of retired people and the quality of life related to social support helps explain the PIL of working adults. Overall, the reported findings suggest that the purpose in life is strongly related to physical, psychological, social and environmental health factors. It is highlighted that working adults and retired people have their purpose in life related to similar factors and others specific to each life stage, suggesting the need for crucial interventions to promote a healthier and more positive aging process.

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“…Nonetheless, conceptual models incorporating various variables are required to expand the knowledge of meaning in life (Steger, 2012). The need for such models was especially noted in studies of older adults (Greenblatt‐Kimron et al, 2022). Therefore, the current study aimed to extend the existing knowledge of meaning in life (e.g., Greenblatt‐Kimron et al, 2022) by examining the relationship between a sense of community and meaning in life.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The mediating roles of optimism, loneliness, and psychological distress in the association between a sense of community and meaning in life among older adults

Kagan,

Zychlinski,

Greenblatt‐Kimron

2023

American J of Comm Psychol

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A sense of community is known to be a protective factor for the well‐being of older adults and meaning in life associated with positive mental outcomes. Nevertheless, there is a need to expand the knowledge of the role of a sense of community in meaning in life, particularly among older adults. Intending to broaden the empirical understanding from this perspective, the current study examined the mediating roles of optimism, loneliness, and psychological distress in the association between a sense of community and meaning in life. Participants included 740 community dwelling Israeli older adults (M = 71.96; SD = 5.81). Participants completed questionnaires on a sense of community, optimism, loneliness, psychological distress, meaning in life, and sociodemographic characteristics. A positive association was found between a sense of community with optimism, and a negative association with loneliness. A negative association between optimism with psychological distress and a positive link between loneliness with psychological distress was found, while a higher level of psychological distress was associated with a lower level of meaning in life. Practitioners should focus interventions with older adults on developing a sense of community, with the aim to promote optimism and, at the same time, reduce loneliness and thus decrease psychological distress while strengthening meaning in life.

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Meaning in Life among Older Adults: An Integrative Model

Cited by 4 publications

References 67 publications

“Meaning in Life” Mediates the Relationship between Loneliness and Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“Meaning in Life” Mediates the Relationship between Loneliness and Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Biopsychosocial Factors That Influence the Purpose in Life among Working Adults and Retirees

The mediating roles of optimism, loneliness, and psychological distress in the association between a sense of community and meaning in life among older adults

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