Poczucie sensu życia kobiet w wieku średnim w sytuacji pandemii COVID-19. Studium przypadku

Abstract

The sense of meaning in life is a basic human need, manifested in human aspirations and motivations. It is the result of a person’s development, resulting from the realisation of certain activities, values and life goals. Confronting difficult events, realising certain activities and making certain choices, a person discovers the meaning of his or her own life. The COVID-19 pandemic caused fear, a sense of isolation and economic insecurity. The hitherto normal life of many societies has been drastically and unexpectedly changed. The pandemic situation has contributed to a deterioration in physical and mental well-being. Loss of normality and grief over the difficulties of certain plans or intentions can contribute to a sense of emptiness, loss of meaning in life. The period of middle adulthood is a time of increased autonomy, detachment, self-analysis, and religious commitments. In middle adulthood, the question of the meaning of life and the hierarchy of values becomes particularly important. The midlife crisis and the first life balances can contribute to an increase in existential problems (related to the meaning of life, goals or life values). The aim of the article is to show the sources of a sense of meaning in life in middle-aged women in the COVID-19 pandemic situation. This case study shows the importance of three basic sources of a sense of meaning, which include creativity (realised activities), experiences (feeling connected to others) and attitude (deepening religious practices, finding deeper meaning in them, a different quality of relationship with God).