Background Health promotion interventions supporting the development of strategies for social participation when ageing is an important concern within occupational therapy. Therefore, a new intervention has been developed. Aim To present a protocol for a feasibility study evaluating the feasibility of Health Web 1.0, a web-based occupational therapy group intervention supporting older adults’ social participation and meaningful activities in daily life. Material and methods This feasibility study follows the framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions. This study will be conducted using a pre-test and posttest design without a control group to evaluate feasibility and potential results. Qualitative and quantitative data will be collected concurrently in a mixed-method design. The Health Web 1.0 will be conducted in municipal primary healthcare settings. The intervention is provided through a digital communication platform, delivered by occupational therapists. Results Not applicable (N/A). Conclusions and significance The intervention will have significance for occupational therapists to adapt to a more proactive role in supporting a meaningful everyday life when ageing. Additionally, the group format and digital delivery of the intervention will provide possibilities to use resources more effectively.

This study aims to investigate the mediating role of self-transcendence in the relationship between filial piety and life meaning among young Batak adults. Cultural values, such as Dalihan Na Tolu principle and filial piety, are believed to play a central role in shaping individuals' perceptions of life's meaning. This quantitative correlational study involved 151 young Batak adults aged 18–40 years, selected through purposive sampling. The instruments used include the Indonesian-adapted versions of the Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ-21), Dual Filial Piety Scale (DFPS), and Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ). Mediation analysis revealed that self-transcendence did not serve as a significant mediator in the relationship between either reciprocal or authoritarian filial piety and meaning in life. However, a significant direct effect was found between authoritarian filial piety and meaning in life. These findings suggest that respect and obedience toward parents, as emphasized in authoritarian filial piety, positively contribute to the development of life meaning in the Batak cultural context. This study offers both theoretical and practical implications for understanding the importance of local cultural values in supporting psychological well-being, serving as a foundation for culturally sensitive interventions for young Batak Toba adults.

The present research is an attempt to analyze "The Myth of Sisyphus" by Albert Camus on the stylistic and literary levels, giving a general notion about Camus' approach to absurdity. The original book is in French but the translation is too close both in style and vocabulary, consequently making it possible to be a subject of analysis. First Camus explains what absurd means, how a person obtains it, and then represents some ways out of absurdity, which are suicide and leap of faith. The author rejects both of the attempts of making life meaningful, thus, giving his own solution to the problem, which is recognition. For Camus, the meaningful life lies in recognizing the following: life itself is meaningless and you are the one who can make it meaningful. At the end of the work Camus puts his theory into practice by representing Sisyphus, an absurd hero, who is the main character of the book.

Most military servicemembers (SMs) struggle to obtain sufficient sleep. Research indicates that SMs work extended hours and delay their sleep in order to create time to engage in meaningful life activities. The purpose of this study was to characterize the occurrence of, and association between, role overload and revenge bedtime procrastination (RBP) in military SMs and to what extent these variables contribute to functional performance. This study utilized a cross-sectional design to collect data from 393 SMs. Outcome measures included the Bedtime Procrastination Scale, the Work Role-Overload Scale, the Walter Reed Functional Impairment Scale (WRFIS), and the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ-10). This study was approved by the San Antonio Institutional Review Board (IRB #24-19390). This study found that SMs who report higher levels of role overload also reported greater engagement in bedtime procrastination, and that both variables significantly predicted declines in functional performance as measured by the FOSQ-10 and the WRFIS. Our findings suggest that RBP in SMs occurs as a byproduct of an imbalance between occupational demands and opportunities to participate in other life roles. Addressing sleep readiness in the military will be ineffective without leadership training, structural reforms, and policies that support optimizing work-life balance. Strengths of this study include the use of validated psychometric instruments and a substantial sample of active-duty SMs across all rank categories. Limitations include the cross-sectional design, which prevents causal inference, and the reliance on self-reported data, which may be influenced by recall bias or social desirability.

In recent years, the tripartite conceptualization of meaning in life (MIL) including (a) coherence/comprehension, (b) purpose, and (c) significance/mattering has received growing scholarly consensus and some support from factor analytic findings. However, a considerable body of studies has shown that the three MIL dimensions are highly correlated, suggesting the potential for MIL's unidimensionality. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether a bifactor model, compared to other plausible models, best explained the relations among three MIL dimensions, namely, comprehension, purpose, and mattering. Using four different samples (4,041T1 and 2,717T2 midlife adults, 610 adults, 956 college students, and 346 patients with chronic illnesses), results indicated that the bifactor model best fit the data, compared to the unidimensional model and the correlated three-factor model. The bifactor model provided evidence for an overarching MIL factor. Ancillary bifactor indices favored the unidimensionality of MIL. The findings provide conceptual, measurement, and practical implications for MIL researchers and practitioners. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Background In an era of scientific uncertainty and philosophical skepticism, the question of life’s meaning has renewed psychological and cultural importance. Although the cosmos lacks intrinsic purpose, humans continue to seek and sustain meaning amid existential ambiguity. This integrative review examines whether durable frameworks of meaning can be developed without cosmic teleology. Methods Using an integrative conceptual review, this study synthesizes insights from existential philosophy and meaning-centered psychology with recent developments in cosmology. Core sources include Sartre and Frankl, therapeutic models, such as Logotherapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and scientific perspectives from multiverse theory and contemporary cosmological narratives. This study proposes a four-phase model of existential meaning-making embedded in a recursive adaptive process. Results The model comprises four interrelated components: (1) value-driven goal setting, (2) reflective self-awareness, (3) purposeful engagement, and (4) responsible decision-making operating within cycles of disruption, integration, and renewal that cultivate resilience and existential growth. Discussion While the universe may be purposeless, reflective consciousness, ethical deliberation, and intentional action enable subjective meaning. Bridging existential philosophy with clinical practice and cosmology, the model highlights meaning-making across suffering, uncertainty, and scientific disenchantment. Conclusion Even in a purposeless cosmos, individuals can construct meaningful lives through value-oriented consciousness and ethical engagement. The model offers a transdisciplinary foundation for therapeutic work, philosophical reflection, and education, and invites empirical validation and implementation.

High-performance sport is often celebrated for cultivating discipline, resilience and excellence. Yet, the same structures that produce elite performance frequently rely on disciplinary practices that can compromise athlete autonomy, well-being and identity development. This article interrogates the ethical dimensions of coaching in high-performance sport through a Foucauldian lens, drawing on concepts such as disciplinary power, technologies of the self and the aesthetics of existence. Building on the work of Jim Denison and colleagues, as well as our own previous work, we examine how coaching practices shape athlete subjectivities both during and after elite sporting careers. The paper presents a framework that coheres a number of key concepts from existing coaching research and enriches them through a Foucauldian ethical perspective, offering a unified way of understanding the ethical dimensions of coaching. We argue that coaching must be reimagined as an ethical, relational and reflexive practice that goes beyond harm reduction to actively support athlete well-being and meaningful, sustainable transitions beyond sport. We explore how ethical self-creation can enable coaches to resist dominant norms and develop care-based coaching approaches that challenge the performance-at-all-costs ethos. We also consider how these insights align and contrast with existing youth sport philosophies and conclude by proposing a set of guiding principles for fostering ethical and sustainable coaching environments. In doing so, the paper offers a contribution to sport coaching research and practice by illuminating how coaches can engage in ethical self-work and systemic transformation, positioning athletes not only as performers but as whole persons capable of living meaningful lives in and beyond sport.

<p><strong>Context and relevance.</strong> Psychological well-being is a significant predictor of teachers’ professional success. The study is grounded in Carol Ryff’s theory of psychological well-being, which conceptualizes it as a multidimensional construct encompassing both subjective experiences and objective indicators of personality functioning. <strong>Objective.</strong> To identify differences in indicators of psychological well-being and its personal predictors in professionally successful teachers and teachers experiencing difficulties in self-actualization. <strong>Methods and Materials.</strong> The study involved 500 teachers from general secondary schools in Minsk, Republic of Belarus, aged 20 to 78 years (75 men and 425 women). Student’s t-test was used for pairwise comparisons, and one-way ANOVA was employed to compare teachers across different professional categories. <strong>Results.</strong> Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in psychological well-being and its personal determinants, specifically in the following key variables: psychological well-being, values, resilience, self-control, and behavioral normativity. <strong>Conclusions</strong><strong>.</strong> Professionally successful teachers are characterized as psychologically well-functioning and resilient individuals with high self-control, a positive self-attitude, clear goals, and an orientation toward self-development, creativity, and achievement. In contrast, teachers facing self-realization difficulties exhibit low self-control, impulsivity, interpersonal challenges, reduced sense of life meaningfulness, and a less positive self-attitude, which collectively hinder their professional fulfillment. To enhance teachers’ professional effectiveness and psychological well-being, it is recommended to integrate the development of resilience, emotional regulation, responsibility, goal-setting, a positive self-attitude, interpersonal relationship skills, and the search for meaning in professional activity into in-service training programs and psychological support systems.</p>

ObjectivesTo explore the impact of acceptance commitment therapy(ACT) to treatment on the mental health of elderly breast cancer patients.MethodsSixty elderly breast cancer patients admitted to a cancer hospital were selected and divided into a control group (n=30) and an intervention group (n=30). The control group received conventional interventions, The intervention group received an additional ACT. Psychological status, quality of life, sense of meaning in life of the two groups were observed and compared.ResultsAfter intervention, the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) scores of the intervention group were lower than those of the control group (p<0.001, p<0.001). In terms of sense of meaning in life, the intervention group scored significantly higher than the control group at post-intervention (p<0.001); Additionally, in terms of quality of life, the scores of the intervention group after the intervention were significantly higher than those of the control group (p<0.001).ConclusionThe effect of ACT in elderly patients with breast cancer can effectively improve the psychological state, quality of life and sense of meaning in life of patients, and the application of this therapy can be further promoted in the future.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12957-025-04056-x.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to: (1) explore Chinese nursing interns' perspectives on a "good death" through their participation in the Heart to Heart Tea House; (2) derive insights for nursing education; and (3) inform the improvement of end-of-life care narratives in China.MethodsUsing convenience sampling, 24 nursing interns participated in the Heart to Heart Tea House activity in eight groups of three. Each group engaged in facilitated discussions centered around three self-selected cards. All dialogue was recorded verbatim and analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis until data saturation was reached, with no new themes emerging from subsequent interviews.ResultsFour main themes emerged: (1) emphasis on autonomy and dignity in end-of-life care, (2) natural acceptance of death and reflections on life's meaning, (3) the need for comfort and physical care in the terminal stage, and (4) considerations of social relationships and emotional support. The interns highlighted the importance of respecting individual choices, maintaining dignity, achieving a peaceful state of mind, managing physical symptoms, and fulfilling emotional expressions.ConclusionThe Heart to Heart Tea House proved to be an effective platform for nursing interns to reflect on and articulate their views regarding a good death. The findings offer valuable guidance for developing targeted nursing education programs and enhancing patient-centered end-of-life care services, emphasizing the significance of integrating such initiatives into healthcare practice.

ABSTRACT The global suicide rate has reached alarming levels, with more than 720,000 deaths by suicide reported in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic and the financial crises and quarantines it triggered have further worsened this issue. Despite these concerning statistics, research shows that our ability to predict suicide is only slightly better than chance. This study investigates the correlates of suicidal ideation through a newer model in suicidology – the Three-Step Theory of Suicide (3ST). Specifically, we tested three key hypotheses: (1) the combination of pain and hopelessness is associated with suicidal ideation (SI); (2) feeling connected to others and finding meaning in life (MIL) are protective against suicidal thoughts, especially in those experiencing high levels of pain and hopelessness; and (3) MIL acts as a mediator between connectedness and suicidal thoughts, playing a role in reducing suicide risk. We surveyed 360 Malaysians using an online questionnaire (Mean age = 22.24, SD = 3.89). The results showed that pain and hopelessness together predicted suicidal thoughts. Additionally, higher social connectedness and meaning in life acted as protective factors against SI for those reporting severe pain and hopelessness. Meanwhile, contrary to our hypothesis, meaning in life did not mediate the relationship between connectedness and SI. Together, these findings provide practical implications for future suicide assessments, prevention, and interventions.

ABSTRACT Parenthood is a practice through which both gender and class are created. Drawing on longitudinal qualitative interviews, this article explores how these processes unfold during the initial phase of parenthood. Analyzing Swedish first-time parents’ plans and actual outcomes regarding parental leave, three main motivations emerge: promoting gender equality, bonding with their child, and creating a meaningful life. However, parents in blue-collar occupations seem to distance themselves from the rhetoric of Swedish gender equality policy. For them, parental leave is less about equal opportunities in family and work, and more about solidarity and collective responsibility. A further distinction arises between viewing parental leave as a way to enjoy the present and as a future investment – an idea echoed in recent Swedish family policy. These ‘social distinctions’ contribute to the formation of different existential mottos that shape parental engagement. Moreover, depending on their cultural and economic capital, and their positions within occupational fields, parents develop varying strategies to align the practice with their wishes. In this context, real freedom diverges from statutory rights. The limits of decommodification within the Swedish parental insurance system appear to affect both the most and least in-demand groups in the labor market.

Meaning in life (MIL) is associated with positive health outcomes, but is generally low among people suffering from borderline personality disorder (PD). Research has shown that MIL has a buffering effect on depression, as well as borderline traits such as suicidality and self-harm. However, to date, no studies have examined Meaning in Life (MIL) in relation to other prevalent personality disorders such as avoidant PD, nor have they investigated how PD severity influences MIL or whether MIL buffers the impact of PDs on psychosocial functioning. Norwegian outpatients (N = 1708) were assessed for PDs in specialized clinics, and measured for meaning in life, symptoms of depression, anxiety and impairment of psychosocial functioning. The data underwent correlational analyses, then grouped into sub-threshold PD, borderline PD, avoidant PD and dual PD (satisfying criteria for both) and tested for mean differences in MIL. Mean differences in MIL were explored across different levels of psychosocial functioning impairment. Finally, a moderation analysis tested whether MIL would buffer the effect that symptoms of depression had on impairment of psychosocial functioning. As expected, correlational analyses showed a negative relationship between MIL and symptoms of ill mental health. A community sample demonstrated the highest MIL, followed by the sub-threshold PDs, the single PDs (either borderline or avoidant), and the Dual PDs with the lowest MIL. Impairment in psychosocial functioning showed significant differences between each level of impairment (low, moderate, severe), with varying results between the PD-groups across these levels. The moderation analysis only showed a buffering effect for the sub-threshold PDs, and not for any other group who received a diagnosis of PD. Having a PD is associated with a severe detriment to the level of MIL. There is no apparent difference in mean MIL between the two most prevalent types of PDs in healthcare (borderline and avoidant PDs). However, the current findings indicate that severity results in different levels of MIL, thus lending support to the dimensional perspective of personality disorder.

The search for meaning in life (MIL) constitutes a fundamental human need. Although depression and MIL are strongly associated, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigated the relationship between depression and MIL, focusing on the mediating roles of loneliness and core self-evaluation (CSE). The study included 1,255 participants, comprising 203 junior high school students, 225 senior high school students, 524 college students, and 303 middle-aged adults. The results were as follows: (a) Depression and loneliness significantly negatively predicted CSE and MIL, while CSE significantly positively predicted MIL. (b) Loneliness and CSE mediated the relationship between depression and MIL. (c) Depression positively predicted loneliness among senior high school students, negatively predicted MIL among middle-aged adults, and CSE positively predicted MIL among college students. These results underscore a significant negative correlation between depression and MIL across all groups, with notable variations in the mechanisms whereby depression influences MIL according to developmental stage. This study’s findings emphasize the importance of considering age-specific factors when designing interventions aimed at enhancing MIL and mitigating depression.

In response to considerable heterogeneity in German healthcare for patients with epidermal necrolysis (EN; also Stevens-Johnson syndrome/ toxic epidermal necrolysis), a national guideline was developed. However, no patient initiatives were identified to represent patient preferences, which have yet to be systematically evaluated in Germany. We conducted a qualitative study on EN survivors' experiences to collect contextualised data on patient preferences and identify potential shortcomings and untapped potentials in routine care. We contacted 14 participants who were either survivors of EN or family members of survivors. After recruitment and obtaining informed consent, we conducted individual and dyadic interviews using a semi-structured guide developed in a preceding focus group with the same patient collective. Following grounded theory principles, recruitment was contingent on emerging themes. In our analysis, we coded interview data into thematic categories of increasing abstraction, resulting in a conceptual framework accounting for universal features of the illness experience. From survivors' perspectives, EN represents a profound transgression or destabilisation of personal and interpersonal boundaries, affecting several fundamental areas of human experience. Even after returning to domestic life, survivors report physical limitations that, despite their perceived invisibility to their social environment, lead to permanent changes in self-concept and personal values. Conversely, the majority of participants emphasised restoring lost boundaries in leading an authentic and meaningful life and counteracting social alienation. The study identifies five key dimensions of boundary violations caused by EN and four areas where healthcare providers can help restore boundaries to facilitate successful coping. Healthcare providers should be mindful of life-altering implications of EN and how debilitating illness sequelae can affect survivors beyond a transient emergency. Optimal medical care should facilitate stabilising lost boundaries over the entire recovery period and requires a sensitivity to existential aspects of the disease only accessible through a sustained dialog with patients and family members.

BackgroundIn response to considerable heterogeneity in German healthcare for patients with epidermal necrolysis (EN; also Stevens-Johnson syndrome/ toxic epidermal necrolysis), a national guideline was developed. However, no patient initiatives were identified to represent patient preferences, which have yet to be systematically evaluated in Germany.ObjectiveWe conducted a qualitative study on EN survivors’ experiences to collect contextualised data on patient preferences and identify potential shortcomings and untapped potentials in routine care.MethodsWe contacted 14 participants who were either survivors of EN or family members of survivors. After recruitment and obtaining informed consent, we conducted individual and dyadic interviews using a semi-structured guide developed in a preceding focus group with the same patient collective. Following grounded theory principles, recruitment was contingent on emerging themes. In our analysis, we coded interview data into thematic categories of increasing abstraction, resulting in a conceptual framework accounting for universal features of the illness experience.ResultsFrom survivors’ perspectives, EN represents a profound transgression or destabilisation of personal and interpersonal boundaries, affecting several fundamental areas of human experience. Even after returning to domestic life, survivors report physical limitations that, despite their perceived invisibility to their social environment, lead to permanent changes in self-concept and personal values. Conversely, the majority of participants emphasised restoring lost boundaries in leading an authentic and meaningful life and counteracting social alienation. The study identifies five key dimensions of boundary violations caused by EN and four areas where healthcare providers can help restore boundaries to facilitate successful coping.ConclusionHealthcare providers should be mindful of life-altering implications of EN and how debilitating illness sequelae can affect survivors beyond a transient emergency. Optimal medical care should facilitate stabilising lost boundaries over the entire recovery period and requires a sensitivity to existential aspects of the disease only accessible through a sustained dialog with patients and family members.

ABSTRACT This research explores the concept of life’s meaning from both philosophical and psychological perspectives, aiming to elucidate its growing prominence within academia. It also highlights the lack of attention given to this subject in these fields, particularly from existential and humanistic viewpoints, as well as from the rapidly developing area of positive psychology. The paper clarifies the distinction between ‘Meaning of Life’ and ‘Meaning in Life’, categorising the latter as a more tangible and manageable focus. A range of key philosophical debates, along with their implications regarding ‘fulfilment’ and ‘purpose’, including issues arising from subjectivist, objectivist, and hybrid positions, are discussed in detail. The study employs the metaphor of philosophical gardening to illustrate that philosophical inquiry involves clearing a conceptual mess and aiding clarity. Analysing the synthesis of different branches of disciplines ultimately concludes that the explanation for a meaningful life cannot be restricted to a subjective or objective approach. Instead, hybrid theories offer a more comprehensive solution. This leads to the assertion that meaning constitutes the core of human existence, encouraging its pursuit and providing an impetus for studying its different aspects.

ABSTRACT Expanding on prior research, the present study examines amor fati and homeostatic fate beliefs as predictors of aspects of living a great life, namely, living a happy life, a meaningful life, and a psychologically rich life in a sample of 265 Indian adults. Results from testing a hypothesized mediation model indicated that good fate coming, but not bad fate coming, partially mediated the association between amor fati and all three aspects of living a great life. Furthermore, results from conducting dominance analyses provided further evidence for the robust role of amor fati, over homeostatic fate beliefs, in accounting for the explained variance in all three aspects of living a great life. Overall, these findings for Indian adults provide robust support for the role of amor fati in living a great life, and point to nuances in the role of homeostatic fate beliefs in this group compared to other Eastern groups.

The two great epics, The Ramayana and The Mahabharata are most likely the best known and dominant epics in Indian Literature, they are embedded in the spiritual, cultural, and ethical DNA of the Indian subcontinent. Both texts serve as both moral and spiritual guides, and they provide a lasting legacy on the ideal way of living through dharma, governance, family, and the constant duality of good versus evil. Objective: The aim of the study has tried to explore the role model of Ramayana and Mahabharata for the development of life. Methodology: We take a directed (interpretive) qualitative research approach, analyzing our data in a textual way, and interpreting the far-reaching philosophical, ethical, and socio-political teachings in both of the great Indian epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Our intent is to critically assess the values, ethics, and social-cultural paradigms found in these two epics and how their values and teachings are meaningful for the development of character. Results and Discussions: Basic principles of the Ramayana and Mahabharata are sought in context of character building of persons. We have observed that there are many directions discussed in these two epics for making noble persons, which are the wealth of a nation. Conclusion: The epics contain all the very relevant lessons, not as museum pieces or prosaic story-telIing of past generations that only exist in self-indulgent contemporary discussions but as documents that provide illumination about the path for individuals and societies alike. The lessons they provide, and the push towards doing one’s duty, self-control, principled leadership, following the advice of mentors in learning, imparting justice, acting with compassion, and striving towards spirituality provide an integrated basis for development of a purposeful, ethical, and meaningful life.

Purpose While considerable attention has been directed towards identifying antecedents and consequences of technostress in various contexts, research is lagging on its mitigation, especially in personal use contexts. Here, we explain how individuals employ coping to shield their humanistic and instrumental goals from technostress-related hindrances in personal smartphone use. As individuals’ goals can be considered pivotal in shaping their lives as worthwhile, identifying solutions for managing the negative consequences of technostress on, for instance, users’ well-being and productivity, is paramount. By focusing on smartphones, which are used by billions, we provide impactful insight relevant for numerous stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach We conducted qualitative research by collecting and analyzing rich data (semi-structured interviews) from 38 smartphone users. Findings By investigating coping with smartphone-related technostress that manifests as hindrances to users’ humanistic (e.g. attaining meaningful life) and instrumental (e.g. managing personal information) goals and their sub-goals (e.g. experiencing happiness and maintaining information security, respectively), we address the multidimensional and hierarchical nature of goals. We further extend this perspective by examining how coping relates to goal explicitness: anticipatory coping tends to prevail when goals are explicit, while reactive coping is more common with implicit goals. Additionally, we showed that users' goals, technostress, and the associated coping can be in conflict, requiring goal prioritization from users. Originality/value We address an important gap in the literature by examining the intricate dynamics of coping with the unintended outcomes of personal smartphone use manifesting as technostress-related hindrances to users’ goals.