Keywords
Purpose-in-Life Test
diagnosis
mental disorder
psychopathology
How to Cite
Abstract
The differences in the meaning in life (MiL) of people with mental disorders are analyzed. Participants were 157 Spanish out-patients (28 men, 17.83%, and 129 women, 82.17%) age-ranged from 13 to 68 years old (M = 32.58, SD = 13.34) and diagnosed with schizophrenia-spectrum (n = 20), eating (n = 85), anxiety (n = 28), and major depressive disorders (n = 24). A Spanish adaptation of the Purpose-in-Life Test, which showed an excellent internal consistency, v = 0.91, was used. An analysis of covariance showed a significant effect of diagnosis in MiL (F(4, 192) = 27.08, p = 0.000, h2 = 0.371) after controlling for the effects of gender (F(1, 192) = 2.34, p = 0.128), age (F(1, 192) = 0.58, p = 0.447), and length of evolution (F(1, 192) = 0.29, p = 0.589). A Bonferroni post hoc test showed significant differences between both the schizophrenia-spectrum and eating groups and both the anxiety and depression groups were found. MiL might play a positive role in therapeutic interventions in people with mental disorders. The pursuit and attainment of significant life goals are successful in the management of mental disorders and positively influence the therapeutic process.
Aftab, A., Lee, E. E., Klaus, F., Daly, R., Wu, T. C., Tu, X., Huege, S., & Jeste, D. V. (2019). Meaning in life and its relationship with physical, mental, and cognitive functioning: A study of 1,042 community-dwelling adults across the lifespan. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 81(1), 19m13064. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.19m13064
Altman, D. G. (1991). Practical statistics for medical research. Chapman and Hall.
Ameli, M. (2016). Integrating logotherapy with cognitive behavior therapy: A worthy challenge. In A. Batthyány (Eds.), Logotherapy and existential analysis: Proceedings of the Viktor Frankl Institute Vienna (Vol. 1, pp. 197-217). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29424-7_18
American Psychiatric Association (APA). (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Author.
D’Abundo, M., & Chally, P. (2004). Struggling with recovery: Participant perspectives on battling an eating disorder. Qualitative Health Research, 14(8), 1094-1106. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732304267753
Fervaha, G., Agid, O., Takeuchi, H., Foussias, G., & Remington, G. (2016). Life satisfaction and happiness among young adults with schizophrenia. Psychiatry Research, 242, 174-179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2016.05.046
First, M. B., Spitzer, R. L., Gibbon, M., & Williams, J. B. W. (1997). User’s guide for the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders: Clinician version (1st ed.). American Psychiatric Press.
Fox, A. P., & Leung, N. (2009). Existential well-being in younger and older people with anorexia nervosa: A preliminary investigation. European Eating Disorders Review, 17(1), 24-30. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.895
Frankl, V. E. (2014). Theory and therapy of the mental disorders. Routledge.
Fulford, D., Meyer-Kalos, P. S., & Mueser, K. T. (2020). Focusing on recovery goals improves motivation in first-episode psychosis. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 55(1), 1629-1637. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-020-01877-x
García-Alandete, J. (2015). Does meaning in life predict psychological well-being? An analysis using the Spanish versions of the Purpose-In-Life Test and the Ryff’s Scales. Euroean Journal of Counselling Psychology, 3(2), 89-98. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejcop.v3i2.27
García-Alandete, J., Gallego, B., Pérez, S., & Marco, J. H. (2019). Meaning in life among adolescents: Factorial invariance of the Purpose in Life Test and buffering effect on the relation between emotional dysregulation and hopelessness. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 26(1), 24-34. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2327
García-Alandete, J., Rosa, E., & Sellés, P. (2013). Factorial structure and internal consistency of a Spanish version of the Purpose-In-Life Test. Universitas Psychologica, 12(2), 517-530. https://doi.org/10.11144/Javeriana.UPSY12-2.efci
Glaw, X., Kable, A., Hazelton, M., & Inder, K. (2017). Meaning in life and meaning of life in mental health care: An integrative literature review. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 38(3), 243-252. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2016.1253804
IBM. (2017). IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25.0. IBM Corp.
Kelftaras, G., & Katsogianni, I. (2012). Spirituality, meaning in life, and depressive symptomatology in individuals with alcohol dependence. Journal of Spirituality and Mental Health, 14(4), 268-288. https://doi.org/10.1080/19349637.2012.730469
Koivumaa-Honkanen, H. T., Honkanen, R., Antikainen, R., Hintikka, J., & Viinimäki, H. (1999). Self-reported life satisfaction and treatment factors in patients with schizophrenia, major depression and anxiety disorder. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 99(5), 377-384. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1999.tb07244.x
Koivumaa-Honkanen, H. T., Viinamäki, H., Honkanen, R., Tanskanen, A., Antikainen, R., Niskanen, L., Jääskeläinen, J., & Lehtonen, J. (1996). Correlates of life satisfaction among psychiatric patients. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 94(5), 372-378. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1996.tb09875.x
Lan, C. M., & Su, T. M. (2007). Life meaning of patients with schizophrenia. Chang Gung Nursing, 18(4), 475-385.
Lungu, A., & Linehan, M. M. (2017). Dialectical behavior therapy: overview, characteristics, and future directions. In S. G. Hofmann & G. J. G. Asmundsonr, (Eds.), The Science of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (pp. 429-459). Academic Press.
Marco, J. H., Cañabate, M., Llorca, G., & Pérez, S. (2019). Meaning in life moderates hopelessness, suicide ideation, and borderline psychopathology in participants with eating disorders: A longitudinal study. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 27(2), 146-158. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2414
Marco, J. H., García-Alandete, J., & Pérez, S. (2020). Meaning in life in eating disorders patients with non-suicidal self injuries. Revista Argentina de Clínica Psicológica, 29(5), 468-477. https://doi.org/10.24205/03276716.2020.1044
Marco, J. H., García-Alandete, J., Pérez, S., & Botella, C. (2014). Meaning in life as a mediator variable between depression and hopelessness in patients with borderline personality disorder. Behavioral Psychology, 22(2), 291-303.
Marco, J. H., García-Alandete, J., Pérez, S., Guillén, V., Jorquera, M., Espallargas, P., & Botella, C. (2015). Meaning in life and non-suicidal self-injury: A follow-up study with participants with borderline personality disorder. Psychiatry Research, 230(2), 561-566. https://doi.org/j.psychres.2015.10.004
Marco, J. H., Guillen, V., & Botella, C. (2017). The buffer role of meaning in life in hopelessness in women with borderline personality disorders. Psychiatry Research, 247, 120-124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2016.11.011
Marco, J. H., Pérez, S., & García-Alandete, J. (2016). Meaning in life buffers the association between risk factors for suicide and hopelessness in participants with mental disorders. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 72(7), 689-700. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22285
Marco, J. H., Pérez, S., García‐Alandete, J., & Moliner, R. (2017). Meaning in life in people with borderline personality disorder. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 24(1), 162-170. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.1991
Martela, F., & Steger, M. (2016). The three meanings of meaning in life: Distinguishing coherence, purpose, and significance. Journal of Positive Psychology, 11(5), 531-545. https://doi.org/17439760.2015.1137623
Moghbel, S., & Haghayegh, S. A. (2019). The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on resilience, meaning in life, and family function in family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. The Horizon of Medical Sciences, 25(4), 298-311. https://doi.org/10.32598/hms.25.4.298
Roberts, G. (1991). Delusional belief systems and meaning in life: A preferred reality? British Journal of Psychiatry, 159(Suppl. 14), 19-28. https://doi.org/10.1192/S0007125000296438
Rosmarin, D. H., & Koenig, H. G. (Eds.) (2020). Handbook of spirituality, religion, and mental healt. Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2017-0-04790-0
Saarni, S. I., Härkänen, T., Sintonen, H., Suvisaari, J., Koskinen, S., Aromaa, A., & Lönnqvist, J. (2006). The impact of 29 chronic conditions on health-related quality of life: A general population survey in Finland using 15D and EQ-5D. Quality of Life Research, 15(8), 1403-1414. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-006-0020-1
Sacco, W. P., & Beck, A. T. (1995). Cognitive theory and therapy. In E. E. Beckham & W. R. Leber, (Eds.), Handbook of Depression: Treatment, Assessment and Research (2nd ed., pp. 329-351). Guilford Press.
Schulenberg, S. E., Strack, K. M., & Buchanan, E. M. (2011). The meaning in life questionnaire: Psychometric properties with individuals with serious mental illness in an inpatient setting. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 67(12), 1210-1219. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20841
Seow, L. S. E., Vaingankar, J. A., Abdin, E., Sambasivam, R., Jeyagurunathan, A., Pang, S., Chong, S. A., & Subramaniam, M. (2016). Positive mental health in outpatients with affective disorders: Associations with life satisfaction and general functioning. Journal of Affective Disorders, 190, 499-507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.10.021
Sivaraman, K. P. (2003). Life goals: The concept and its relevance to rehabilitation. Clinical Rehabilitation, 17(2), 192-202. https://doi.org/10.1191/0269215503cr599oa
Stolovy, T., Lev-Wiesel, R., Doron, A., & Gelkopf, M. (2009). The meaning in life for hospitalized patients with schizophrenia. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 197(5), 133-135. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0b013e3181963ede
Volkert, J., Schulz, H., Brütt, A. L., & Andreas, S. (2014). Meaning in life: Relationship to clinical diagnosis and psychotherapy outcome. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 70(6), 528-535. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22053
Williams, D. T., Hirsch, S., & Coffey, B. (2007). Mood and anxiety symptoms in an adolescent with pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified and moderate mental retardation. Journal of Child and Adolescence Psychopharmacology, 17(5), 721-726. https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2007.17503
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2021 Joaquín García-Alandete