Meaning in life and physical health: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to clarify the associations between meaning in life and physical health using random-effects models. Conceptualisation of meaning (order in world vs. purpose in life), type of health indicators, participants' health status, and age issues were investigated as moderators. Systematic searches of six databases resulted in inclusion of k = 66 studies (total N = 73,546). Findings indicated that meaning in life and physical health formed weak-to-moderate associations (the overall estimate of the average effect = 0.258). Conceptualisation of meaning, participants' health status, and their age did not moderate these associations. Operationalisation of health moderated the relationship between meaning in life and health. The strongest associations were found for subjective indicators of physical health. Significant albeit weak associations between meaning in life and objective indices of health were found. Furthermore, stronger effects were observed when the measures of meaning combined items referring to meaning in life and meaning-related sense of harmony, peace, and well-being, compared to measures focusing solely on meaning in life. Overall, the results point to the potential role of meaning in life in explaining physical health.

Spirituality, infertility‐related stress, and quality of life in Brazilian infertile couples: Analysis using the actor‐partner interdependence mediation model

“…Spirituality is involved in meaning‐based coping, which also includes positive reinterpretation, revised goals, and the infusion of ordinary events with positive meaning (Folkman, ). In patients with various chronic medical conditions, spirituality plays a protective role in adjustment to illness and promotes quality of life (Czekierda, Banik, Park, & Luszczynska, ; Mishra, Togneri, Tripathi, & Trikamji, ; Salmoirago‐Blotcher et al, ). Spirituality is commonly used by infertile women and couples to deal with the chronic stressor of infertility (Latifnejad Roudsari et al, ; Romeiro, Caldeira, Brady, Hall, & Timmins, ), and it has been associated, in women, with lower infertility‐related stress and depressive symptoms, higher life satisfaction (Domar et al, ; Etemadifar, Hosseiny, Ziraki, Omrani, & Alijanpoor, ), and improved emotional adjustment to assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment (Chan et al, ).…”

What brings meaning to life in a highly secular society? A study on sources of meaning among Danes

“…They have become important topics in contemporary empirical research (Kreitler & Urb anek, 2014;McDonald, Wong & Gingras, 2012;Schnell, 2012), with substantially growing impact (for a review see Heintzelman & King, 2014). Related concepts like meaningfulness, sense of coherence, continuity, and purpose in life have been shown to be associated with better psychological health and functioning, (Haugan, 2014;Hedberg, Brulin, Al ex & Gustafson, 2011;Homan & Boyatzis, 2010;Steger, Mann, Michels & Cooper, 2009;Van der Heyden, Dezutter & Beyers, 2015), better physical health (Czekierda, Banik, Park & Luszczynska, 2017;Roepke, Jayawickreme & Riffle, 2014), and even longevity (Boyle, Barnes, Buchman & Bennett, 2009;Cohen, Bavishi & Rozanski, 2016;Hill & Turiano, 2014;Krause, 2009). Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the health-promoting effect of meaningfulness.…”

The assessment of spiritual well-being in cancer patients with advanced disease: which are its meaningful dimensions?

“…According to the Biopsychosocial-Spiritual Model [12], spirituality is positively associated with Quality of Life (QOL) [9,13,14]. When spiritual needs are substantially unmet, end of life patients are forced to grapple with an overall burden of daily distress and worries that affect their emotional and spiritual well-being [15] as well as health care decision-making [8,16,17].…”