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Associations between meaning in life and suicidal ideation in young people: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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  • Li, Sijia
  • Luo, Hao
  • Huang, Feng
  • Wang, Yiming
  • Siu Fai Yip, Paul

Abstract

Suicidal ideation is a strong predictor of suicide among young people and is an outcome of interactions between protective and risk factors. Previous studies have focused primarily on risk factors while there is little evidence on important protective factors such as meaning in life. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the association between meaning in life and suicidal ideation among young people, and to explore potential moderating effects including demographics (gender and age) and social factors (economy and culture). We searched EBSCO, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science for relevant studies that reported correlations between meaning in life and suicidal ideation from their inception to October 2022. Studies were included in this review if they were empirical studies, written in English and sampled general young people aged 10–24. We employed a random-effects model meta-analysis to estimate the effect size. We identified 3168 references after removing duplicates and 11 studies (of 18 samples) were included in the review and meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed a moderate negative correlation between meaning in life and suicidal ideation (r = -0.51, 95％CI [-0.57, −0.45]) in young people. In addition, the correlation between meaning in life and suicidal ideation was stronger in high-income (r = -0.51, 95％CI [-0.54, −0.48]) and individualist countries (r = -0.51, 95％CI [-0.53, −0.48]) compared with upper-middle-income (r = -0.39, 95％CI [-0.41, −0.37]) and collectivist countries (r = -0.40, 95％CI [-0.41, −0.38]), respectively, but comparable across gender and age. We identified strong negative associations between meaning in life and suicide ideation in high-income and individualist countries. This highlights that approaches targeting enhancing meaning in life should be considered in suicide prevention and intervention, especially in high-income and individualist countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Sijia & Luo, Hao & Huang, Feng & Wang, Yiming & Siu Fai Yip, Paul, 2024. "Associations between meaning in life and suicidal ideation in young people: A systematic review and meta-analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:158:y:2024:i:c:s0190740924000495
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107477
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Silenzio, V.M.B. & Pena, J.B. & Duberstein, P.R. & Cerel, J. & Knox, K.L., 2007. "Sexual orientation and risk factors for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among adolescents and young adults," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 97(11), pages 2017-2019.
    2. Eckersley, Richard & Dear, Keith, 2002. "Cultural correlates of youth suicide," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 55(11), pages 1891-1904, December.
    3. Jian-Bin Li & Kai Dou & Yue Liang, 2021. "The Relationship Between Presence of Meaning, Search for Meaning, and Subjective Well-Being: A Three-Level Meta-Analysis Based on the Meaning in Life Questionnaire," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 467-489, January.
    4. de Jong, E.M. & Ziegler, N. & Schippers, M.C., 2020. "From Shattered Goals to Meaning in Life: Life Crafting in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2020-008-LIS, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
    5. Ian C. Fischer & Ekin Secinti & Zeynep Cemalcilar & Kevin L. Rand, 2021. "Examining Cross-Cultural Relationships Between Meaning in Life and Psychological Well-Being in Turkey and the United States," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 1341-1358, March.
    6. Matthew J Page & Joanne E McKenzie & Patrick M Bossuyt & Isabelle Boutron & Tammy C Hoffmann & Cynthia D Mulrow & Larissa Shamseer & Jennifer M Tetzlaff & Elie A Akl & Sue E Brennan & Roger Chou & Jul, 2021. "The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(3), pages 1-15, March.
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    1. Jia-Yi Cai & Xin-qiang Wang & Tao Zhang & Shu-Ya Pan, 2026. "Social Support and Meaning in Life: A Meta-Analysis," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 1-23, February.
    2. Ted CT Fong & Yu Cheng Hsu & Paul SF Yip, 2025. "Situational impact, psychosocial risk factors, and suicidality among young adults in Hong Kong during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: A repeated cross-sectional network analysis," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 71(7), pages 1350-1360, November.

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