Posttraumatic symptomatology, meaning in life, and perceived family functioning in nonclinical trauma-exposed university students.

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to explore and analyze the associations among posttraumatic symptoms, meaning in life dimensions, and perceived family functioning in trauma-exposed university students. Method: Participants (N = 158) answered a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Posttraumatic Stress Global Assessment (Crespo et al., 2017), the Purpose in Life Test (Crumbaugh & Maholick, 1969), and the Family APGAR (Smilkstein, 1978). Results: Outcomes indicated several negative associations between posttraumatic symptoms and both meaning in life and family functioning areas. Conclusions: These findings suggest family functioning and meaning-in-life clinical practical relevance concerning the assessment, prevention, and intervention in persons affected by trauma.

How meaning in life and vitality are associated with posttrauma outcomes: A systematic review

“…Second, through direct correlational analysis, 16 studies listed in Table 2 reported significantly reduced PTSD symptom levels among individuals with higher perceived MIL (Aiena et al., 2016; Arredondo & Caparrós, 2021, 2024; Ben‐Ezra et al., 2013; Bryan et al., 2020; Daneshvar et al., 2022; Davies et al., 2023; Feder et al., 2013, 2016; Fischer et al., 2020; Herr & Buchanan, 2020; Mehnert et al., 2012; Morse et al., 2023; Owens et al., 2009; Pietrzak & Cook, 2013; Quiroga‐Garza et al., 2021; Schulenberg et al., 2016). Contrary to the previous studies, which explored the mediation role of MIL, participants in these studies were almost exclusively from Western countries, with 14 studies conducted with samples of U.S. military veterans and two studies conducted in Spain.…”