Purpose In Life Research Articles

Medicine Through the Lens of Humanity: Exploring the Legacy of Oliver Sacks, the Storyteller Neurologist.

In an era of medicine when a paternalistic approach was the norm, neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks infused his care with humanity, centering a dialogue that emphasized his patients' perspective and personhood. For most of his life, he encountered significant personal challenges, and struggled with prosopagnosia and an internal conflict with his sexuality. Instead of allowing these challenges to hold him back, he transformed them into the driving force behind a career that uniquely combined the scientific beauty of neurology and a humanistic patient-centered approach with the power of literature. Through non-fiction works like Awakenings and The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, he translated the overwhelming complexities of neurological disorders into stories that touched the hearts of readers around the world, making the science of the brain more accessible and human. In his later years, Dr. Sacks grappled with his mortality and the broader questions of aging and life's purpose, themes central to his final book, Gratitude. His reflections emphasized the importance of aligning healthcare with patients' personal values and goals. Dr. Sacks' legacy is marked not only by his professional contributions and literary achievements but also by his deep compassion and innovative approach to patient care, which continues to influence modern medical practice and inspire an ongoing discourse about the intersection of science, humanity, and individual experience.

Disrupted coping and skills for sustainability: A pluralist Heideggerian perspective

What is the ontological significance of sustainability crises – and the struggles to overcome them? Drawing on Heideggerian perspectives – in dialogue with Laclau and Mouffe's discourse theories – I argue sustainability crises become meaningful at the level of everyday experience when they disrupt the flow of ordinary skilled practices and their orientations towards the future. Such disruptions trigger what Heidegger termed ‘anxiety’, which implies an erosion of life's coherence, meaning and purpose. Developing skills to ‘cope’ with sustainability crises may enact alternative ontologies that restore what anxiety threatens; ‘skills for sustainability’ potentially disclose new worlds, meanings, values and goals. I illustrate this through vignettes of individuals transitioning to organic farming in India. I show how disruptions to farmers’ skilled practices triggered anxiety while also prompting the development of skills for alternative agricultural practice. These skills enabled new ways of experiencing worlds, non-human entities and the telos of everyday activity.

Biopsychosocial Consideration of Ikigai in Older Adults in Japan through a Cross-Sectional Study.

Ikigai-a Japanese concept that includes elements such as life's purpose and meaning-has been reported to be associated with various systemic health conditions, such as the risk of developing physical dysfunction or death in older adults. However, there are no reports that comprehensively examine the psychological and social aspects of Ikigai. We attempted to clarify the characteristics of Ikigai by examining it from a biopsychosocial model using physical, psychological, and social perspectives through a cross-sectional study on sarcopenia, frailty and healthy life expectancy in a hilly and mountainous area of Japan. Koyadaira in Mima City, which is located in a hilly and mountainous region on Shikoku Island in Japan, was targeted. This cross-sectional study included 105 outpatients aged 65 and over, with an average age of 79.02 ± 6.91 years. Ikigai (self-rating score on a scale of 0 (no Ikigai) to 5 (the highest Ikigai)) participants' level of physical activity (the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, PASE), degree of depression (the Geriatric Depression-15 Scale, GDS-15), cognitive function (the Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE) and social isolation (the abbreviated Lubben Social Network Scale, LSNS-6) was assessed. Significant positive correlations were found between PASE and MMSE. The LSNS-6 significantly correlated with the MMSE and GDS-15. In a path model, out of four paths from PASE, GDS-15, MMSE, and LSNS-6 to Ikigai, the path from the GDS-15 alone was significant (correlation coefficient -0.271, p < 0.01). The adaptability of this model was good. This study indicates that depressive status has a large impact on Ikigai, along with physical, cognitive, and social conditions; thus, it is appropriate to consider that an affective psychological status, such as depressive symptoms, is a fundamental condition for having Ikigai.

Retirement’s Impact on Quality of Life and Purpose in Life

A study on participants in pre-and post-retirement phases was taken up to understand their quality of life (QoL) and purpose in life (PIL). A relationship between the two was also seen. A survey questionnaire was used with a modified Purpose in Life scale (Boyle et al., 2009) and CASP-19 (Hyde et al., 2003) for measuring PIL and QoL respectively. The sample taken comprised of participants who were about to retire (n=33) and participants who had already retired (n=33), with a total sample size of 66, between the ages of 55 to 70. A comparison of means and Pearson’s product correlation methods were used for data analysis. There was a positive correlation found between QoL and PIL (r=.594, p&lt;0.01). Thus, it was concluded that PIL and QoL are positively correlated, but there seemed to be no immediate effect of retirement on them.

The specific features of the values and meaning domain and motivation of future specialists in the transport industry

Currently, the problem of training highly skilled, competitive specialists equipped with competencies necessary for their future professional activity is of particular relevance. This is key to building a talent pipeline in the transport industry in general and in the railway sector in particular where the activities of the majority of workers involve providing safety and continuity of operations. One of the topical issues is to study their values and meaning domain and motivational attitudes to their future profession as an opportunity to develop techniques of psychological and pedagogical support aimed at forming stable internal motives and optimizing the professional development of future specialists in the transport industry. The purpose of the study is to explore the specific features of the values and meaning domain and motivation of future specialists in the transport industry. In order to study the purpose-in-life orientations, personality traits and motivation of future specialists in the transport industry, a study was conducted with the participation of 50 people aged 20 to 24 years. The following methods were used: the Purpose-in-Life (PIL) Test by D. Crumbaugh and L. Maholick adapted by D. A. Leontiev; the questionnaire for the assessment of personality traits of a professional (LOP) by I.G. Senin and V.E. Oryol; and the Motivation for Success and Fear of Failure (MUN) method by A. A. Rean. The results for interpretation were obtained by mathematical and statistical data processing using correlation analysis (the Pearson correlation criterion). The sense of purpose in the students is associated with the ability to identify significant conditions for achieving goals and everything that happens to them contributes to their personal growth. The more the students perceive their lives as emotionally intense and interesting, the less they tend to perceive their educational and professional activities as a source of stress. Conclusions: Students with clear goals for the prospects of their future professional self-realisation tend to show internal motives for achieving results to a greater extent. The feeling of meaningfulness and productivity of the students’ lives is associated with tension they experience in the learning process, conscious control of their actions and behaviour.

Facilitators and Barriers to Lung Cancer Screening during Long COVID: A Global Systematic Review and Meta-Study Synthesis of Qualitative Research.

Background: Participation in targeted screening reduces lung cancer mortality by 30-60%, but screening is not universally available. Therefore, the study aimed to synthesize the evidence and identify facilitators and barriers to lung cancer screening participation globally. Methods: Two reviewers screened primary studies using qualitative methods published up to February 2023. We used two-phase synthesis consistent with a meta-study methodology to create an interpretation of lung cancer screening decisions grounded in primary studies, carried out a thematic analysis of group themes as specific facilitators and barriers, systematically compared investigations for similarities and differences, and performed meta-synthesis to generate an expanded theory of lung cancer screening participation. We used the Social Ecological Model to organize and interpret the themes: individual, interpersonal, social/cultural, and organizational/structural levels. Results: Fifty-two articles met the final inclusion criteria. Themes identified as facilitating lung cancer screening included prioritizing patient education, quality of communication, and quality of provider-initiated encounter/coordination of care (individual patient and provider level), quality of the patient-provider relationship (interpersonal group), perception of a life's value and purpose (cultural status), quality of tools designed, and care coordination (and organizational level). Themes coded as barriers included low awareness, fear of cancer diagnosis, low perceived benefit, high perceived risk of low-dose computerized tomography, concern about cancer itself, practical obstacle, futility, stigma, lack of family support, COVID-19 fear, disruptions in cancer care due to COVID-19, inadequate knowledge of care providers, shared decision, and inadequate time (individual level), patient misunderstanding, poor rapport, provider recommendation, lack of established relationship, and confusing decision aid tools (interpersonal group), distrust in the service, fatalistic beliefs, and perception of aging (cultural level), and lack of institutional policy, lack of care coordinators, inadequate infrastructure, absence of insurance coverage, and costs (and organizational status). Conclusions: This study identified critical barriers, facilitators, and implications to lung cancer screening participation. Therefore, we employed strategies for a new digital medicine (artificial intelligence) screening method to balance the cost-benefit, "workdays" lost in case of disease, and family hardship, which is essential to improve lung cancer screening uptake.

Components of well-being and distress that foster resilience in medical students

Introduction The shortage of medical professionals is becoming a nearly unsurmountable burden worldwide. Increasing uncertainties in the external environment require enhanced capacity for predicting future outcomes from the young adult population of medical students.ObjectivesTo find the level of resilience, the domains of psychological well-being and the symptoms of distress; and to identify associations between them in a cohort of medical students.MethodsData were collected in the 2022-23 academic year among Hungarian and English medical students at Semmelweis University. An online questionnaire was circulated via the official academic administration system (Neptun) with the incentive to provide personal results with available resources for those who requested it. Besides age and gender, we applied the short form of the Nicholson McBride Resilience Questionnaire (NMRQ), Ryff’s Psychological Well-being Scales (PWB), and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS). Additional to descriptive statistics, univariate analyses as well as multiple regression analyses (SPSS v.24) were used. (Ethics permission No: BM/5326-2/2023).ResultsAltogether 318 students (132 Hungarians) filled the questionnaire, and 251 students requested personal answers. 114 males participated with a mean age slightly higher than that of females (24 (SD:4) ys vs 23 (SD:3) ys). Hungarians (H) demonstrated lower resilience (Mdn:37, IQR:32, 42) then international (I) students (Mdn: 41, IQR: 36, 47), U=15287, p&lt;0.001. Both H and I students showed similar patterns on PWB, scoring highest on personal growth, purpose in life and positive relations with others; while reaching lowest scores on environmental mastery, and lower scores on autonomy and self-acceptance. However, they demonstrated differences in each of the domains (see table). Hungarian n=132 (Mn (SD)) International n=186 (Mn (SD)) t (316)pAutonomy (A)34 (7.9)36 (7.4)-2.80.004Environmental Mastery (EM)32 (8.4)34 (7.7)-2,10.04Personal Growth (PG)42 (5.6)40 (7.2)2.90.004Positive Relations (PR)41 (8.4)37 (7.7)4.6&lt;0.001Purpose in Life (PL)42 (7.8)38 (8.0)3.5&lt;0.001Self-Acceptance (SA)36 (10.4)36 (7.7)0.2n.s.Higher prevalence of symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress were found in I students. Multiple regression analyses resulted in statistically significant models for both H (F(11, 121)=19.6; p&lt;0.001; R2=0.641) and I students (F(12, 143)=8.98; p&lt;0.001; R2=0.430) indicating that EM (t=4.7; p&lt;0.001), PL (t=--3.2; p=0.002), SA (t=4.2; p&lt;0.001), A (t=2.9; p=0.005), and anxiety (t-4.06; p&lt;0.001) significantly predicted the strength of resilience in H, while autonomy (t=4.9; p&lt;0.001) proved to be significant predictor in case of I students.ConclusionsThese single-centre results need to be further clarified on national and international level to stimulate interventions for strengthening resilience through establishing a caring network by universities for the fragile population of medical students.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Adolescents with strong life purpose report greater career maturity

AbstractIn this study, we examined the role of sense of life purpose (awakening to purpose, awareness of purpose, and altruistic purpose) in career maturity (concern, curiosity, confidence, and consultation) among adolescents (N = 234). Adolescents with a strong awareness of purpose reported high career curiosity, high career confidence, and low career consultation. Adolescents with altruistic purpose reported high career concern but low career confidence. Awakening to purpose, on the other hand, did not significantly contribute to career maturity. Overall, findings suggest the importance of providing support as adolescents explore various career options within the context of their life's purpose.

Higher purpose in life and education were associated with better cognition among older adults.

With aging, some cognitive abilities change because of neurobiological processes. Cognition may also be influenced by psychosocial aspects. To describe the relationship between a measure of neuroticism, depression symptoms, purpose in life, and cognitive performance in community-dwelling older adults. This was a cross-sectional analysis based on the data from the second wave of the Frailty in Brazilian Older Adults (FIBRA) study, carried out between 2016 and 2017. The sample consisted of 419 older people (≥ 72 years old) cognitively unimpaired and mostly with low education. The variables of interest were sociodemographic, Neuroticism domain from the NEO-PI-R, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Purpose in Life (PiL) scale, and a cognitive composite score which included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the scores for the sub-items of the Mini-Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (M-ACE), namely, Verbal Fluency (VF) - Animal, Clock Drawing Test (CDT), Episodic Memory (name and address). There was a greater number of women (70%), with older age (median = 80 years, IQR = 77-82), and low education (median = 4 years, IQR = 2-5). In the bivariate correlations, years of education (ρ = 0.415; p < 0.001) and PiL (ρ = 0.220; p < 0.001) were positively associated with cognition. Neuroticism (ρ = -0.175; p < 0.001) and depression symptoms (ρ = -0.185; p < 0.001) were negatively associated with cognition. In the logistic regression, after including confounding variables, the associations between cognition and PiL (OR = 2.04; p = 0.007) and education (OR = 1.32; p < 0.001) remained significant. Low PiL and low education levels were associated with worse cognition among older adults. Such results may be of relevance in programs that aim to improve cognition among older adults.

Eco-Theology: Purification of Respect Against Du'a Ngga'e Ende-Lio Tribe

Each culture has its unique approach to understanding the concept of safety, and the Ende-Lio culture on Flores Island, Indonesia, is no exception. In the Ende-Lio culture, the concept of salvation is known as "Du'a Ngga'e," which forms the basis of understanding life's purpose, balance with nature, and relationship with the universe. This paper focuses on understanding Du'a Ngga'e as a theological concept that emphasizes the importance of maintaining balance in human interaction with nature, gods, and ancestral spirits. This concept represents the belief that good actions and righteous ethics will ensure the safety of individuals and communities in this world and towards life after death. Therefore, Ndua Ngga'e emphasizes caring for nature, maintaining a harmonious relationship with the universe, and living with high ethics. This study illustrates how Ende-Lio cultures understand and integrate the concept of ecological theology in their daily lives. The concept of D'ua Ngga'e inspires positive action in safeguarding nature and promoting a healthy relationship between humans and the universe.

Finding purpose in life: the way of the masters’ athletes

Increasing longevity poses major challenges for society and older persons, highlighting the importance of identifying factors that promote healthy aging and the maintenance of functional abilities. Among these factors, psychological well-being – particularly purpose in life – is crucial. Purpose in life (PL) is associated with a positive worldview and emotional well-being. The literature suggests that the perception of higher PL can act as a protective factor against conditions such as stress and depression, motivating older individuals to take better care of their physical and mental health. Furthermore, involvement in sports, especially among masters’ athletes, not only promotes physical health but also strengthens a sense of community and purpose. For these individuals, sport is not just a form of physical exercise, but a continuous source of challenges, social connection, and inspiration. Thus, discovering and cultivating purpose in older age not only improves individual quality of life, but also inspires others to adopt active and meaningful lifestyles, challenging conventional expectations of aging.

Does purpose in life or ethnic identity moderate the association for racial discrimination and suicide ideation in racial/ethnic minority emerging adults?

To examine purpose in life (PIL) and ethnic identity (EI) as buffers to suicide ideation for Asian American, Hispanic, and Black emerging adults who perceive racial discrimination. Two-hundred eighty-nine undergraduate students enrolled at a large university in the southwestern region of the United States (40.8% Asian American, 32.5% Hispanic, 26.6% Black; 61.2% women; mean age = 20.47, SD = 1.83) reported on experiences of racial discrimination, PIL, EI, and suicidal thoughts. Covariates were intrinsic religiosity, gender, and age. Regression analysis showed that EI was not a significant moderator for the association between perceived racial discrimination (PRD) and suicidal ideation (β = -.08, p = .13; 95% confidence interval (CI) [-.19, .03]). However, PIL was a significant moderator (β = -.11, p = .025; CI [-.20, -.01]). A hierarchical regression showed that PIL as a moderator explained additional variance (ΔR2 = 0.11, p < .001) in suicide ideation above and beyond EI. These findings provide some insight into how life purpose might ameliorate the impact of social stressors above and beyond a positive cultural identity for young racial/ethnic minority adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Exploring the meaning of life among Chinese adolescents with nephrotic syndrome: determinants and psychological correlates.

Adolescents with Nephrotic Syndrome (NS) confront unique challenges that influence their Meaning of Life (MOL), a concept crucial for psychological resilience. The chronic nature of NS and its associated burdens necessitate a deeper exploration of MOL and its determinants within this demographic, previously underexamined in research. This study aims to investigate MOL among Chinese adolescents with NS, identifying key factors influencing their sense of meaning and examining the interrelations with Subjective Well-Being (SWB) and Psychological Security (PS). Employing a cross-sectional survey design, we analyzed 150 adolescents with NS from Baise City, Guangxi, using the Purpose in Life (PIL) scale alongside PS and SWB scales. Sociodemographic and disease-related variables were assessed for their impact on MOL. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression, and correlation analyses to explore predictors of MOL and its association with SWB and PS. A significant proportion (62.0%) of participants exhibited MOL scores below the threshold, indicating diminished life meaning. Critical factors impacting MOL included 'left-behind' status, family structure, educational disruptions, and NS duration. Strong correlations emerged between MOL, SWB (r = 0.70, p < 0.01), and PS, highlighting the interdependence of these psychological dimensions. The study further revealed 'Proactivity' as a vital component of MOL, suggesting that despite their challenges, adolescents with NS maintain a keen engagement with life. Key aspects such as 'Certainty in Control', 'Mood of Melancholy or Pleasure', and 'Vitality' emerged as crucial for intervention. The findings underline the profound impact of NS on adolescents' MOL, influenced by both sociodemographic and disease-specific factors. By identifying key areas for psychological intervention, this study contributes to the holistic care and treatment of adolescents with NS, advocating for integrated approaches that address their unique challenges and support systems.

VOLUNTEERISM AND PURPOSE IN LIFE IN A NATIONAL SURVEY OF COMMUNITY-DWELLING MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Volunteerism has been shown to provide physical, psychological, and functional health benefits as people age. Volunteers are able to participate in meaningful service, develop social connections, and exercise their abilities. In this study, we examined whether engaging in various types of volunteer engagement (e.g. charitable, political, religious, environmental, animal welfare, support group) was associated with self-perceived change in purpose in life (PIL) over a five year lookback period, controlling for demographic and health variables. Data were drawn from the AARP Social Engagement and Brain Health Survey, which included a nationally representative sample of adults aged 40-75+ (mode=55-64 years) across the United States who completed an online survey (N=2,585). Hierarchical linear regression was used. People who were younger (β=-.06, t=-2.55, p=.01), Black (β=.23, t=10.50, p&amp;lt;.001) or Hispanic (β=.12, t=5.20, p&amp;lt;.001), married (β=.05, t=2.65, p=.01), and had better health (β=.16, t=7.09, p&amp;lt;.001) and cognition (β=.18, t=7.69, p&amp;lt;.001) reported greater increase in PIL over the last five years (ΔR2=.13, p&amp;lt;.001). After controlling for demographic and health variables, people who valued PIL (β=.15, t=7.49, p&amp;lt;.001; ΔR2=.02, p&amp;lt;.001) and participated in volunteer work through a religious organization (β=.05, t=2.38, p=.02) or support groups (β=.07, t=3.10, p=.002) were more likely to report greater levels of PIL over the last five years (ΔR2=.02, p&amp;lt;.001). These results suggest that changes in experienced PIL may depend on physical and cognitive health, importance placed on PIL, and type of volunteer engagement, all of which may be points of potential intervention.

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The article delves into the psychological aspects of self-development, focusing on the strategies and factors influencing effective personal growth. The study's significance arises from the recognition that individuals, at a specific juncture in their lives, become conscious of their individuality and subsequently endeavor to present themselves favorably to others while pursuing their life's purpose. Moreover, the concept of personal growth has become prevalent in contemporary society, with influential figures advocating the idea that self-development is an essential objective for every individual, as significant success cannot be attained without it. The present study establishes the significance of the psychology of self-development concerning strategies and factors influencing effective personal growth. The essence of the "self-development" concept has been thoroughly examined, and the primary aspects of human self-development have been delineated. Moreover, this work provides comprehensive characterizations and detailed descriptions of various forms of human self-development, including self-affirmation, self-actualization, and self-improvement. The article elucidates the particularities of self-development strategies in individuals, including imitation, the "twist of fate," and purposeful movement towards desired goals. Furthermore, the work describes psychological barriers that impede an individual's self-development. The study characterizes factors that positively influence personal growth, encompassing empathic support, appropriate upbringing, clear goal awareness, developed self-organization, interpersonal interaction, a drive for self-realization, and a creative approach. Moreover, the article identifies scenarios wherein self-development assumes a negative aspect, leading to regression rather than progress.

12 Purpose in Life, Loneliness, and Subjective Cognitive Decline in an Ethnically Diverse US Sample

Objective:Subjective cognitive decline (SCD), the self-reported experience of worsening cognitive abilities (Jessen et al., 2014), is associated with increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment. Modifiable factors such as purpose in life (PiL), the experience of living a meaningful life where one’s life goals are attainable or being achieved (Boyle et al., 2009), and loneliness, an individual’s perceived social isolation (Luhmann &amp; Hawkley, 2016), are known to be associated with SCD. These relationships are understudied among ethnically diverse groups. Using an online survey, we examined associations between PiL, loneliness and SCD in older ethnically diverse individuals living in the US.Participants and Methods:870 older adults (126 Latino, 74 Black, 33 Asian, and 637 White; average age=67.0 [7.6]) completed an online survey including the Life Purpose Questionnaire, the Gierveld Loneliness Scale, and the Everyday Cognition scale (ECog), which measures subjective cognitive concerns in memory, language, executive function, and divided attention. Chi-square tests and analyses of variance were conducted to assess group differences in SCD and demographic/lifestyle predictors. Multiple regressions and correlations were conducted to assess the relationships between ethnicity and PiL with SCD, and the moderating effect of race/ethnicity. Multiple regressions and correlations were conducted to identify sociodemographic and lifestyle predictors of SCD in each study group.Results:White participants were older (p&lt;.001), and White and Asian groups had higher levels of education (p=.009) compared to Latinos. The White group had a higher proportion of female (p=.016) and middle-income (p=.019) respondents. Black participants had higher PiL (p=.035) and lower loneliness (p=.047) compared to White participants; there were no group differences in ECog ratings (p=.143). Regression results indicated that higher PiL associated with lower SCD in the whole sample (β=-.435, p&lt;.001). The interaction between PiL and ethnic group was significant (β=.078, p=.025), suggesting the relationship between PiL and SCD was strongest in White participants, followed by Asian, then Latino, and finally Black participants. In Latinos, female sex (β=-.281, p=.004) and higher PiL (β=-.240, p=.034) predicted lower SCD ratings. In White participants, higher PiL (β = -.394, p &lt; .001), and lower loneliness (β = .128, p = .003) predicted lower SCD ratings. Correlation analyses revealed no significant associations with SCD in the Black group, although the correlation between loneliness and SCD was trending (r=.222, p=.063). In the Asian group, greater PiL was associated with lower SCD ratings (r=-.439, p=.011).Conclusions:Our findings suggest that PiL may be protective against SCD, particularly in Latino, Asian, and White adults. Differential predictive factors of SCD were also identified for our study groups, suggesting certain groups may benefit from specific targeted interventions. Overall, findings suggest that interventions geared toward increasing PiL and/or mitigating loneliness may help reduce SCD and the risk of cognitive decline in older adults in the US. As the current study was cross-sectional and faced sample size limitations in Asian and Black groups, future studies should include longitudinal assessment of these associations with larger and more representative samples to confirm our findings.

Perawatan Spiritual Pasien Di Ruang Intensive Care Unit: Narrative Review

Nursing services worldwide today strive to incorporate a holistic approach, where individuals are regarded as complete beings encompassing biological, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual dimensions. Within the context of intensive care units (ICUs), spiritual care is recognized as a fundamental element that can foster hope, provide a sense of life's purpose, and alleviate anxiety in patients. This research aimed to gain insight into the provision of spiritual care for ICU patients and utilized a narrative review methodology. Searches were conducted in clinical databases such as Scopus and ProQuest, using keywords like "intensive care unit AND patients AND psychiatric care AND spirituality." The selected articles adhered to inclusion criteria, pertained to the subject matter, and were published within the last seven years (2016-2022). In total, 11 articles were included as primary references in this study. The findings of this research reveal that ICUs offer three categories of spiritual services to patients: tailored spiritual services that address individual needs, spiritual support provided by the patient's family, and spiritual support delivered by healthcare professionals. This study underscores the multiple facets of spiritual care that benefit ICU patients, encompassing the recognition and response to their spiritual needs, the assistance of family members, and the support provided by the medical team. All of these components contribute positively to the recovery of ICU patients and meet their spiritual requirements.

Thriving amidst adversity: Flourishing and grit in Ukrainian college students with strong life purpose before and after the onset of the Russian war in Ukraine

This multi-study examined the role of life purpose in the well-being of Ukrainian university students before (Study 1) and during the Russian war in Ukraine (Study 2) during the 2021-22 academic year using a cross-sectional design. University students from a city highly affected by the war, a region which borders Russia, completed measures of sense of purpose in life (awakening to purpose, awareness to purpose, altruistic purpose), specific purpose orientations (others-growth, self-growth, career-focused), flourishing, and grit (consistency of interests, perseverance of effort). Structural equation modeling was used to test four alternative path models. In Study 1 (N = 159), flourishing was positively predicted by all measures of purpose, except for awareness of purpose, which was a negative but weak predictor. Similar to flourishing, both dimensions of grit were positively predicted by career-focused purpose orientation above and beyond the overall sense of life purpose. Additionally, perseverance of effort was predicted positively by awakening to purpose. Consistent with Study 1, in Study 2 (N = 107), flourishing and perseverance of effort were positively predicted by career-focused purpose orientation above and beyond the overall sense of life purpose. Additionally, flourishing was positively predicted by awakening to purpose and others-growth purpose orientation. Overall, students with a strong life purpose reported high sense of flourishing and grit. Findings also highlighted the salient role of career-focused purpose orientation in students' well-being. It is thereby important to support students in exploring and connecting life's purpose with their career aspirations.

Improving Purpose in Life in School Settings.

Background and aim: The dimension of purpose in life (PiL) is one of the core features of eudaimonia and plays a crucial role in developmental settings. However, few studies have examined purpose in life in younger generations and verified if it is amenable to improvements following a wellbeing-promoting intervention. The aim of the present investigation is to explore correlates and predictors of purpose in life in school children and to test if it can be ameliorated after school-based wellbeing interventions. Methods: A total of 614 students were recruited in various schools in Northern Italy. Of these, 456 belonged to junior high and high schools and were randomly assigned to receive a protocol of School Well-Being Therapy (WBT) or a psychoeducational intervention (controls). A total of 158 students were enrolled in elementary schools and received a positive narrative intervention based on fairytales or were randomly assigned to controlled conditions. All students were assessed pre- and post- intervention with Ryff scales of eudaimonic wellbeing (short version) and with other self-report measures of anxiety, depression and somatization. Additionally, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was administered to their schoolteachers as observed-rated evaluation. Results: In both elementary and high schools, purpose in life after the intervention was predicted by initial depressive symptoms and by group assignment (positive interventions vs. controls). In older students, PiL was predicted by female gender and anxiety levels, while no specific strengths identified by teachers were associated with PiL. Conclusions: PiL plays an important and strategic role in developmental settings, where students can develop skills and capacities to set meaningful goals in life. Depressive symptoms and anxiety can be obstacles to developing PiL in students, while positive school-based interventions can promote this core dimension of eudaimonia.

Identifying Types of Purpose in Life (PIL): A Comparative Study between High Ability and Typical Adolescents

Identifying Types of Purpose in Life (PIL): A Comparative Study between High Ability and Typical Adolescents