Abstract
Background and Objectives: Research on suicidal behavior (SB) has frequently focused more on risk factors than protective factors. Since the historic works of Viktor E. Frankl, who inquired how some Nazi concentration camps prisoners maintained their will to live though confronted with pervasive absurdity, Meaning in Life (MiL) has been interpreted as a potent resiliency factor. MiL then declined along a multitude of theoretical perspectives and was associated with various functioning domains of the individual. Surprising, few studies investigated the role of MiL on SB. We aimed to review and synthetize current literature on possible associations between MiL and SB, which included suicidal ideation (SI), suicidal attempts (SA), and completed suicide, focusing on two MiL constructs (the presence of MiL and search for MiL) from the Michael F. Steger’s recent conceptualization. Material and Methods: A systematic strategy following PRISMA guidelines was used to search for relevant articles in Pubmed/MEDLINE, Scopus, PsycINFO, and ScienceDirect (January 1980–February 2019) and yielded 172 articles, 37 of which met our inclusion criteria. Results: MiL emerged as a protective factor against SI, SA, and completed suicides, directly or through mediation/moderation models with other SB-related variables. When distinguishing the presence of MiL and the search for MiL, a consensual protective impact was described for the former. Data for the latter were less consistent but rather oriented towards a non-protective impact Conclusions: These findings could have clinical repercussions for SB prevention, in both suicide risk assessment refinement and psychotherapeutic interventions. Further research is needed to examine the dynamic interplay of the two constructs.
Highlights
Research on suicidal behavior (SB) has frequently focused on suicide risk factors
We performed a systematic search in four major electronic databases comprising medical and social science research (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Science Direct, and PsychINFO) for relevant titles and abstracts published between January 1980 and February 2019
Figure Studies excluded either because the exclusion criteria were met or because of low relevance shows the flow through the identification, screening, and assessment of eligibility
Summary
Research on suicidal behavior (SB) has frequently focused on suicide risk factors. In contrast, elements that can buffer stressors and protect an individual from SB have received less attention [1].Historically, exploration into the adaptive and life-maintaining characteristics of non-suicidal people was originated by Viktor E. Frankl, who attempted to elucidate how some Nazi concentration camp prisoners were able to maintain the will to live and which subjective reasons protected them from a pervasive sense of absurdity [2]. He observed that individuals with a “will of meaning” (Der Wille zum Sinn) had the best chance of survival [2]. Frankl, who inquired how some Nazi concentration camps prisoners maintained their will to live though confronted with pervasive absurdity, Meaning in Life (MiL) has been interpreted as a potent resiliency factor. Further research is needed to examine the dynamic interplay of the two constructs
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