Meaning in Late Life: A Scoping Review

IF 3.1 2区心理学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY Journal of Happiness Studies Pub Date : 2024-02-07 DOI:10.1007/s10902-024-00726-x

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Abstract

Throughout the years some scholars have emphasised that developmental changes might influence the experience of meaning in life (MIL), especially in the case of older adults. However, so far, it is unclear whether researchers implement this developmental perspective when conceptualising MIL in late life. This scoping review aims to get insight in the developmental focus on conceptualising MIL in late life (adults aged 70 or older). A systematic literature search was performed using 7 databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science Core Collections, CINAHL, ProQuest Psychology, OSF Preprints, The Philosopher’s Index and AnthroSource) yielding 25 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. While most included articles solely described a general conceptualisation of MIL regardless of life stage, 3 studies mentioned a MIL conceptualisation adapted to older adults. These adapted conceptualisations shed light on components potentially distinctive for MIL in older adults, such as fulfilled purpose, ability to reconcile the past, continuation and felt coherence, beside the components currently included in general contemporary MIL conceptualisations, such as the components of the tripartite view on MIL. Largely, except of these 3 studies, most studies in this review did, thus, not include a developmental perspective. However, 10 studies referred to specific developmental aspects, such as time, past and expected changes in MIL in late life without implementing these developmental aspects to their conceptualisation of MIL. Consequently, the findings of this review suggest the importance of adapting a more explicit developmental perspective when conceptualising MIL in late life.

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晚年生活的意义：范围审查

摘要多年来，一些学者一直强调，发展变化可能会影响人生意义（MIL）的体验，尤其是对老年人而言。然而，迄今为止，还不清楚研究人员在构思晚年生活意义时是否贯彻了这一发展观点。本次范围界定综述旨在深入了解晚年生活意义（MIL）概念化的发展重点（70 岁或以上的成年人）。我们使用 7 个数据库（MEDLINE、Web of Science Core Collections、CINAHL、ProQuest Psychology、OSF Preprints、The Philosopher's Index 和 AnthroSource）进行了系统的文献检索，结果有 25 篇文章符合纳入标准。虽然大多数纳入的文章只描述了 MIL 的一般概念，而不考虑生命阶段，但有 3 项研究提到了适用于老年人的 MIL 概念。这些经过调整的概念阐明了老年人生活方式的潜在特征，如实现目标、与过去和解的能力、持续性和感觉连贯性，以及目前包含在当代生活方式概念中的一般特征，如生活方式三方观点的特征。因此，除这 3 项研究外，本综述中的大多数研究都没有纳入发展的视角。不过，有 10 项研究提到了具体的发展方面，如时间、过去和晚年生活中情感、态度和价值观的预期变化，但没有将这些发展方面纳入他们的情感、态度和价值观概念中。因此，本综述的结果表明，在对晚年生活质量进行概念化时，采用更明确的发展视角非常重要。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Happiness Studies Multiple-

CiteScore

8.60

自引率

6.50%

发文量

110

期刊介绍： The international peer-reviewed Journal of Happiness Studies is devoted to theoretical and applied advancements in all areas of well-being research. It covers topics referring to both the hedonic and eudaimonic perspectives characterizing well-being studies. The former includes the investigation of cognitive dimensions such as satisfaction with life, and positive affect and emotions. The latter includes the study of constructs and processes related to optimal psychological functioning, such as meaning and purpose in life, character strengths, personal growth, resilience, optimism, hope, and self-determination. In addition to contributions on appraisal of life-as-a-whole, the journal accepts papers investigating these topics in relation to specific domains, such as family, education, physical and mental health, and work. The journal welcomes high-quality theoretical and empirical submissions in the fields of economics, psychology and sociology, as well as contributions from researchers in the domains of education, medicine, philosophy and other related fields. The Journal of Happiness Studies provides a forum for three main areas in happiness research: 1) theoretical conceptualizations of well-being, happiness and the good life; 2) empirical investigation of well-being and happiness in different populations, contexts and cultures; 3) methodological advancements and development of new assessment instruments. The journal addresses the conceptualization, operationalization and measurement of happiness and well-being dimensions, as well as the individual, socio-economic and cultural factors that may interact with them as determinants or outcomes. Central Questions include, but are not limited to: Conceptualization: What meanings are denoted by terms like happiness and well-being? How do these fit in with broader conceptions of the good life? Operationalization and Measurement: Which methods can be used to assess how people feel about life? How to operationalize a new construct or an understudied dimension in the well-being domain? What are the best measures for investigating specific well-being related constructs and dimensions? Prevalence and causality Do individuals belonging to different populations and cultures vary in their well-being ratings? How does individual well-being relate to social and economic phenomena (characteristics, circumstances, behavior, events, and policies)? What are the personal, social and economic determinants and causes of individual well-being dimensions? Evaluation: What are the consequences of well-being for individual development and socio-economic progress? Are individual happiness and well-being worthwhile goals for governments and policy makers? Does well-being represent a useful parameter to orient planning in physical and mental healthcare, and in public health? Interdisciplinary studies: How has the study of happiness developed within and across disciplines? Can we link philosophical thought and empirical research? What are the biological correlates of well-being dimensions?