Meaning in life: An important factor for the psychological well-being of chronically ill patients?

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to investigate 2 dimensions of meaning in life—Presence of Meaning (i.e., the perception of your life as significant, purposeful, and valuable) and Search for Meaning (i.e., the strength, intensity, and activity of people's efforts to establish or increase their understanding of the meaning in their lives)—and their role for the well-being of chronically ill patients. Research design A sample of 481 chronically ill patients (M = 50 years, SD = 7.26) completed measures on meaning in life, life satisfaction, optimism, and acceptance. We hypothesized that Presence of Meaning and Search for Meaning will have specific relations with all 3 aspects of well-being. Results Cluster analysis was used to examine meaning in life profiles. Results supported 4 distinguishable profiles (High Presence High Search, Low Presence High Search, High Presence Low Search, and Low Presence Low Search) with specific patterns in relation to well-being and acceptance. Specifically, the 2 profiles in which meaning is present showed higher levels of well-being and acceptance, whereas the profiles in which meaning is absent are characterized by lower levels. Furthermore, the results provided some clarification on the nature of the Search for Meaning process by distinguishing between adaptive (the High Presence High Search cluster) and maladaptive (the Low Presence High Search cluster) searching for meaning in life. Conclusions The present study provides an initial glimpse in how meaning in life may be related to the well-being of chronically ill patients and the acceptance of their condition. Clinical implications are discussed.

Meaning in life in chronic pain patients over time: associations with pain experience and psychological well-being

“…In line with these findings, we hypothesized that pain patients experiencing greater levels of meaning (High Presence High Search or High Presence Low Search) would also report lower pain intensity and less frequent use of pain medication in comparison to their counterparts who do not experience such high levels of meaning. Similar to previous cross-sectional findings (Dezutter et al 2013, 2014; Steger et al 2011), we hypothesized that low presence combined with high search might indicate a stressful search (Baumeister 1991; Klinger 1998), resulting in a less than optimal adjustment to chronic pain. On the other hand, high levels of Search for Meaning combined with high levels of presence of meaning might indicate an adaptive search pattern (Frankl 1963) and be accompanied by more optimal adjustment.…”

“…Experiencing chronic pain often requires a revision of one’s life goals and expectations (Pinquart et al 2009). Hence, the impact of a chronic condition is not limited to patients’ biopsychosocial functioning but impacts the existential domain as well (Dezutter 2010; Dezutter et al 2013). Patients wonder how their life can be meaningful if they experience chronic pain and they are often less able to engage with those aspects of their life that gave their life meaning because of the pain.…”

“…In addition, several scholars (e.g., Cohen and Cairns 2012; Steger et al 2008a, b) point to the dynamic interplay between Search for Meaning and Presence of Meaning as an important research aim. Dezutter et al (2013, 2014) studied this interaction between Presence of Meaning and Search for Meaning and found specific meaning in life profiles which held distinct associations with psychosocial functioning and illness. However, the few available studies focusing on both Presence of Meaning and Search for Meaning as important resources in the adjustment process are limited by their cross-sectional designs.…”

“…Based on earlier cross-sectional findings of meaning in life profiles in chronically ill patients (Dezutter et al 2013), we hypothesized that at least four meaning in life profiles would emerge over time: Low Presence Low Search (patients experiencing no meaning in their life and not engaged in any Search for Meaning), Low Presence High Search (patients experiencing no meaning but engaged in a Search for Meaning), High Presence Low Search (patients experiencing meaning in their lives and not engaged in a Search for Meaning), and High Presence High Search (patients experiencing meaning and searching for meaning in their lives). No detailed hypotheses were made with respect to the developmental changes of the individual meaning in life profiles because previous research examining changes in meaning in life is very limited.…”

“…Based on earlier cross-sectional studies using a typological approach (Dezutter et al 2013, 2014), we hypothesized that profiles with high levels of Presence of Meaning (i.e., High Presence High Search; High Presence Low Search) would show more optimal adjustment (reflected in lower levels of depressive symptoms and greater life satisfaction) in comparison to profiles characterized by low Presence of Meaning (i.e., Low Presence Low Search; Low Presence High Search). A recent experimental study (Smith et al 2009) revealed that a sense of purpose in life was related to the ability to habituate faster to laboratory-induced heat and cold pain stimuli.…”