Examination of Meaning in Life and Related Factors

Abstract

Meaning in life is a determinant of mental well-being, psychological resilience, and healthy development, as well as healthy aging and quality of life. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the concept of meaning in life and related factors in line with the literature. The review methodology was used in the study. A search was performed on databases between June 2020-June 2021. Meaning in life-related factors were reviewed in two groups as mental and physical health indicators. A positive relationship was found between the increase in meaning in life level and psychological well-being and life satisfaction, and a negative relationship with stress, anxiety, depression, hopelessness, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, and fear of death. Besides, there was a negative relationship between meaning in life and symptoms, such as fatigue, pain, constipation, respiratory distress, which are indicators of physical health, and cardiovascular diseases. It was determined that the literature on the subject included descriptive and review studies. This study indicated that meaning in life affected the lives of individuals physically and mentally, but the literature is limited in terms of the number and design of studies. This review also underlines the limitations of the nursing literature related to the subject. At this point, it can be said that it is a necessity for nurses, who are in a key position, to empower individuals. For this reason, it can be said that health professionals must empower these individuals.

Keywords

• Nursing
• meaning in life
• mental health

Yaşamda Anlam Bulma ve İlişkili Faktörlerin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Yaşamda anlam bulma ruhsal iyi oluşun, psikolojik gücün, sağlıklı gelişimin yanı sıra sağlıklı yaşlanmanın ve yaşam kalitesinin belirleyicisidir. Bu doğrultuda çalışmanın amacı yaşamda anlam bulma kavramını ve ilişkili faktörleri literatür bilgisi doğrultusunda irdelemektir. Derleme desende tasarlanmış bu araştırmada “hemşirelik, ruh sağlığı, yaşamda anlam bulma-nursing, mental health, meaning in life” anahtar kelimeleri ile “EbscoHost, Proquest, Science Direct, Wiley, Ulakbim” veri tabanları taranmıştır. Yaşamda anlam bulma ilişkili faktörler fiziksel ve ruhsal sağlık göstergeleri olarak iki grupta derlenmiştir. Yaşamda anlam bulma düzeyindeki artış ile ruhsal sağlık göstergesi olan psikolojik iyi oluş ve yaşam doyumu arasında pozitif yönde bir ilişki, stres anksiyete depresyon, umutsuzluk, intihar düşüncesi, madde bağımlılığı ve ölüm korkusu arasında ise negatif yönde bir ilişki olduğu görülmüştür. Ayrıca yaşamda anlam ile fiziksel sağlık göstergesi olan yorgunluk, ağrı, kabızlık, solunum güçlüğü gibi belirtiler ve kardiyovasküler hastalıklar arasında negatif yönlü bir ilişki olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Bununla birlikte konu ile ilgili literatürün tanımlayıcı ve derleme çalışmaları kapsadığı belirlenmiştir. Bu derleme makale yaşamda anlam bulmanın bireylerin yaşamını fiziksel ve ruhsal açıdan etkilediğini ancak literatürün araştırma sayısı ve deseni konusunda sınırlı olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Bu derleme konu ile ilişkili hemşirelik literatürü kısıtlılığının da altını çizmektedir. Bu noktada kilit konumda bulunan hemşirelerin bireyleri güçlendirmesinin bir gereklilik olduğu söylenebilir. Ayrıca araştırma sayısının ve farklı araştırma desenlerinin kullanıldığı çalışmaların planlanmasının önerilebilir.

Keywords

• Hemşirelik
• ruh sağlığı
• yaşamda anlam bulma

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