Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship of meaning in life and its dimensions to depression and general psychological health, as well as the differences concerning the meaning of life among individuals with low, moderate and high depressive symptomatology. A sample of 401 newly recruited young men for their national service in the navy, completed four questionnaires on meaning in life, depressive symptomatology, psychological health and socio-demographic factors. Significant associations were found between meaning in life and depressive symptoms. As expected, subjects with higher life meaning were found to have lower depressive symptomatology, while subjects with higher depression scores were found to have a lower sense of meaning in life. However, concerning the meaning in life dimensions, only the “contentedness with life” and the “goal achievement” significantly differentiated individuals of low, moderate and high depressive symptomatology. Furthermore, statistical significant correlations were found between meaning in life and the four dimensions of general health. In the same vein, the comparison between individuals with the lower and the higher meaning of life has shown that the two groups differ significantly with regards to psychological health: those with higher meaning of life present a better psychological health. Finally, being married or involved in a romantic relationship, as well as participation in social activities are proven to be significant sources of meaning. These findings point to a definite relationship of meaning in life with depression and psychological health. Implications for psychotherapy and counselling are discussed.
Highlights
The primary motive of human behavior, according to Frankl’s existential theory (1959) is the will to meaning or else a person’s strive to find a reason for his/her limited and often “confusing” existence
The results indicate statistically significant negative correlations between the level of an individual’s depressive symptomatology and 1) the total meaning of life that he experiences (r = –.55, p .0001); 2) contentedness with life that he feels (r = –.46, p .0001); 3) the achievement of goals that he strives for (r = –.31, p .0001) and 4) the freedom of choice that he perceives to have (r = –.08, p .05)
Our assumption regarding the relationship between these two variables was confirmed and showed that the higher the meaning of life of a person, the less the depressive symptomatology he/she manifests
Summary
The primary motive of human behavior, according to Frankl’s existential theory (1959) is the will to meaning or else a person’s strive to find a reason for his/her limited and often “confusing” existence. A person can discover his/her personal meaning of life (Frankl, 1973) by: 1) his/her creative values, which s/he experiences through goal achievement and what s/he contributes to life (e.g., work, creating a home, defending of a belief etc.); 2) his experiental values, which he experiences through anything good, beautiful or true he takes from life (e.g., enjoy music or a landscape, making an intimate relationship with another person) and 3) attitudinal values, which he experiences through the attitude he holds in a difficult situation or a situation which is inevitably accompanied by suffering This attitude is indicative of a person’s deeper perception for life and the world
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
