Meaning-Making in Memories: A Comparison of Memories of Death-Related and Low Point Life Experiences

Mackay, Michael M.; Bluck, Susan

doi:10.1080/07481181003761708

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…The answers found can ''establish and/or augment'' the meaning of one's life (Steger et al, 2008, p. 200). Assessments of searching for meaning have focused on content analyses of autobiographical narratives in order to capture rich meaning making that is local to specific events (Mackay & Bluck, 2010), as well as on self-reported tendencies to search for and to find meaning in life more generally. This latter work has no direct link to searching for meaning through memory processes or reviewing one's past (Meaning in Life Questionnaire; Steger, Frazier, Oishi, & Kaler, 2006).…”

Section: Using One's Past To Search For Meaning and Direct Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

When does meaning making predict subjective well-being? Examining young and older adults in two cultures

Alea

Bluck

2013

Memory

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Two studies in different cultures (Study 1: USA, N=174, Study 2: Trinidad, N=167) examined whether meaning making, (i.e., both searching for meaning, and directing behaviour) is positively related to subjective well-being (SWB) by age (younger, older adults). In both studies, participants self-reported engagement in meaning making, and SWB (e.g., affect, future time perspective, psychological well-being). In Study 1, young Americans (compared to older) more frequently used their past to direct behaviour but doing so was unrelated to SWB. In older Americans, both types of meaning making were positively associated with SWB. In Study 2, Trinidadian younger adults were again more likely than older adults to engage in meaning making. Unlike in the American sample, however, directing behaviour was positively related to SWB for both young and older adults. The studies demonstrate that whether meaning making shows benefits for SWB may depend on type of meaning, age and culture. Note that although meaning making was sometimes unrelated to SWB, no detrimental relations to meaning making were found. The discussion focuses on the role of moderators in understanding when meaning making should lead to benefits versus costs to SWB.

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Section: Using One's Past To Search For Meaning and Direct Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

When does meaning making predict subjective well-being? Examining young and older adults in two cultures

Alea

Bluck

2013

Memory

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“…Being aware of one’s own beliefs and values is an essential competency in providing health care, but perhaps even more so when providing end-of-life care. Although students may at first be concerned or anxious about their ability to interact with dying persons, they appeared to find that such interactions can be positive and meaningful (Mackay & Bluck, 2010). The care competency Fostering Quality of Life appeared the least frequently in the students’ reflections.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experiential Palliative Care Immersion: Student Nurse’s Narratives Reflect Care Competencies

et al. 2019

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Many nurses report a lack of confidence providing care for patients facing a life-threatening illness. Palliative care leaders have devised primary palliative nursing care competencies (CARES [Competencies And Recommendations for Educating undergraduate nursing Students]) that all students should achieve. In this study, nursing students participated in an innovative palliative care immersion experience, the Comfort Shawl Project. We performed a reliable content analysis of their narrative reflections. The goal was to evaluate whether reflections on their interactions with patients/families were consistent with CARES competencies. Nine female students wrote reflections after gifting each of the 234 comfort shawls to patients. Four CARES-related categories were analyzed: Individual Values and Diversity, Compassionate Communication, Fostering Quality of Life, and Self-Insight and Emotion. Reflections were highly representative (41%) of recognizing Individual Values and Diversity, representing sensitivity for patients’ unique differences in values, an integral component of palliative care. The Comfort Shawl Project shows promise as an experiential immersion for introducing nursing students to CARES competencies.

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“…Transcripts of the life stories patients shared in their DT session were content-analyzed for meaning-making using a standard codebook theoretically derived from the classic meaning-focused coping model. 37,38 This model suggests several aspects of meaning-making are critical for reappraisal of, and emotional adjustment to, stressful life events such as illness. The codebook provides clear guidance on how to recognize manifestation of meaningmaking in participant narratives, including: finding benefit (i.e., patient uncovers positive aspects of an experience), allocating responsibility (i.e., patient assigns responsibility regarding a challenge to make the challenge feel more meaningful), religious-spiritual explanation (i.e., patient provides religious/ spiritual understanding of an event), downward social comparison (i.e., patient reframes situation to realize there may have been worse possible outcomes) and personal growth (i.e., patient describes self-development from their experience).…”

Section: Design and Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quality of Life for Older Cancer Patients: Relation of Psychospiritual Distress to Meaning-Making During Dignity Therapy

Bluck

Mroz

Wilkie

et al. 2021

Am J Hosp Palliat Care

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Background: Nearly 500,000 older Americans die a cancer-related death annually. Best practices for seriously ill patients include palliative care that aids in promoting personal dignity. Dignity Therapy is an internationally recognized therapeutic intervention designed to enhance dignity for the seriously ill. Theoretically, Dignity Therapy provides opportunity for patients to make meaning by contextualizing their illness within their larger life story. The extent to which Dignity Therapy actually elicits meaning-making from patients, however, has not been tested. Aim: The current study examines (i) extent of patient meaning-making during Dignity Therapy, and (ii) whether baseline psychospiritual distress relates to subsequent meaning-making during Dignity Therapy. Design: Participants completed baseline self-report measures of psychospiritual distress (i.e., dignity-related distress, spiritual distress, quality of life), before participating in Dignity Therapy. Narrative analysis identified the extent of meaning-making during Dignity Therapy sessions. Participants: Twenty-five outpatients ( M age = 63, SD = 5.72) with late-stage cancer and moderate cancer-related symptoms were recruited. Results: Narrative analysis revealed all patients made meaning during Dignity Therapy but there was wide variation (i.e., 1—12 occurrences). Patients who made greater meaning were those who, at baseline, reported significantly higher psychospiritual distress, including greater dignity-related distress ( r = .46), greater spiritual distress ( r = .44), and lower quality of life ( r = -.56). Conclusion: Meaning-making was found to be a central component of Dignity Therapy. Particularly, patients experiencing greater distress in facing their illness use the Dignity Therapy session to express how they have made meaning in their lives.

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Meaning-Making in Memories: A Comparison of Memories of Death-Related and Low Point Life Experiences

Cited by 8 publications

References 38 publications

When does meaning making predict subjective well-being? Examining young and older adults in two cultures

When does meaning making predict subjective well-being? Examining young and older adults in two cultures

Experiential Palliative Care Immersion: Student Nurse’s Narratives Reflect Care Competencies

Quality of Life for Older Cancer Patients: Relation of Psychospiritual Distress to Meaning-Making During Dignity Therapy

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