IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jhappi/v25y2024i1d10.1007_s10902-024-00726-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Meaning in Late Life: A Scoping Review

Author

Listed:
  • Julie Vissers

    (KU Leuven)

  • Isto Peltomäki

    (University of Eastern Finland)

  • Daan Duppen

    (KU Leuven)

  • Gørill Haugan

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

  • Helena Larsson

    (Kristianstad University)

  • Suvi-Maria Saarelainen

    (University of Eastern Finland)

  • Jessie Dezutter

    (KU Leuven)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Julie Vissers & Isto Peltomäki & Daan Duppen & Gørill Haugan & Helena Larsson & Suvi-Maria Saarelainen & Jessie Dezutter, 2024. "Meaning in Late Life: A Scoping Review," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 1-33, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:25:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s10902-024-00726-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-024-00726-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10902-024-00726-x
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10902-024-00726-x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Veronika Huta & Alan Waterman, 2014. "Eudaimonia and Its Distinction from Hedonia: Developing a Classification and Terminology for Understanding Conceptual and Operational Definitions," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(6), pages 1425-1456, December.
    2. Laura Dewitte & Tine Schellekens & Michael F. Steger & Frank Martela & Siebrecht Vanhooren & Mathieu Vandenbulcke & Jessie Dezutter, 2021. "What Can We Learn About the Concept of Meaning in Life from Older Adults with Alzheimer’s Disease? A Directed Content Analysis Study," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(7), pages 2845-2871, October.
    3. David Moher & Alessandro Liberati & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Douglas G Altman & The PRISMA Group, 2009. "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-6, July.
    4. Cristina García & Lucrecia Moreno & Mónica Alacreu & Francisco J. Muñoz & Luis A. Martínez, 2022. "Addressing Psychosocial Factors in Cognitive Impairment Screening from a Holistic Perspective: The DeCo-Booklet Methodology Design and Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-23, October.
    5. Keith A. Anderson & Noelle L. Fields & Jessica Cassidy & Lisa Peters-Beumer, 2022. "Purpose in Life: A Reconceptualization for Very Late Life," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 2337-2348, June.
    6. Laura Dewitte & Patrick L. Hill & Mathieu Vandenbulcke & Jessie Dezutter, 2022. "The longitudinal relationship between meaning in life, depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, and cognitive functioning for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(4), pages 1155-1166, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Javier Piñeiro-Cossio & Antonio Fernández-Martínez & Alberto Nuviala & Raquel Pérez-Ordás, 2021. "Psychological Wellbeing in Physical Education and School Sports: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-16, January.
    2. İlkay Unay-Gailhard & Mark A. Brennen, 2022. "How digital communications contribute to shaping the career paths of youth: a review study focused on farming as a career option," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(4), pages 1491-1508, December.
    3. Mahin Ghafari & Vali Baigi & Zahra Cheraghi & Amin Doosti-Irani, 2016. "The Prevalence of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Iranian Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(6), pages 1-10, June.
    4. Santos Urbina & Sofía Villatoro & Jesús Salinas, 2021. "Self-Regulated Learning and Technology-Enhanced Learning Environments in Higher Education: A Scoping Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-12, June.
    5. Nadine Desrochers & Adèle Paul‐Hus & Jen Pecoskie, 2017. "Five decades of gratitude: A meta‐synthesis of acknowledgments research," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 68(12), pages 2821-2833, December.
    6. Maryono, Maryono & Killoes, Aditya Marendra & Adhikari, Rajendra & Abdul Aziz, Ammar, 2024. "Agriculture development through multi-stakeholder partnerships in developing countries: A systematic literature review," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    7. Alene Sze Jing Yong & Yi Heng Lim & Mark Wing Loong Cheong & Ednin Hamzah & Siew Li Teoh, 2022. "Willingness-to-pay for cancer treatment and outcome: a systematic review," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 23(6), pages 1037-1057, August.
    8. Agnieszka A. Tubis & Katarzyna Grzybowska, 2022. "In Search of Industry 4.0 and Logistics 4.0 in Small-Medium Enterprises—A State of the Art Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-26, November.
    9. John Stanley & Janet Stanley, 2023. "Improving Appraisal Methodology for Land Use Transport Measures to Reduce Risk of Social Exclusion," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-18, August.
    10. García-Poole, Chloe & Byrne, Sonia & Rodrigo, María José, 2019. "How do communities intervene with adolescents at psychosocial risk? A systematic review of positive development programs," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 194-209.
    11. Qing Ye & Bao-Xin Qian & Wei-Li Yin & Feng-Mei Wang & Tao Han, 2016. "Association between the HFE C282Y, H63D Polymorphisms and the Risks of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Liver Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis o," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(9), pages 1-17, September.
    12. Bishal Mohindru & David Turner & Tracey Sach & Diana Bilton & Siobhan Carr & Olga Archangelidi & Arjun Bhadhuri & Jennifer A. Whitty, 2020. "Health State Utility Data in Cystic Fibrosis: A Systematic Review," PharmacoEconomics - Open, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 13-25, March.
    13. Neal R. Haddaway & Matthew J. Page & Chris C. Pritchard & Luke A. McGuinness, 2022. "PRISMA2020: An R package and Shiny app for producing PRISMA 2020‐compliant flow diagrams, with interactivity for optimised digital transparency and Open Synthesis," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(2), June.
    14. Ding Zhu & Mindan Wu & Yuan Cao & Shihua Lin & Nanxia Xuan & Chen Zhu & Wen Li & Huahao Shen, 2018. "Heated humidification did not improve compliance of positive airway pressure and subjective daytime sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: A meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(12), pages 1-16, December.
    15. Pelai, Ricardo & Hagerman, Shannon M. & Kozak, Robert, 2020. "Biotechnologies in agriculture and forestry: Governance insights from a comparative systematic review of barriers and recommendations," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    16. Wesam Salah Alaloul & Muhammad Altaf & Muhammad Ali Musarat & Muhammad Faisal Javed & Amir Mosavi, 2021. "Systematic Review of Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Cost Analysis for Pavement and a Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-38, April.
    17. Claudia Peters & Agnessa Kozak & Albert Nienhaus & Anja Schablon, 2020. "Risk of Occupational Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Health Personnel Measured by Interferon-Gamma Release Assays in Low Incidence Countries—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-16, January.
    18. Sehee Kim & Mihyeon Park & Sukhee Ahn, 2022. "The Impact of Antepartum Depression and Postpartum Depression on Exclusive Breastfeeding: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 31(5), pages 866-880, June.
    19. Habarurema Jean Baptiste & Yan Guang Cai & A. Y. M. Atiquil Islam & Nzabalirwa Wenceslas, 2022. "A Systematic Review of University Social Responsibility in Post-Conflict Societies: The Case of the Great Lakes Region of East Africa," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 164(1), pages 439-475, November.
    20. Yafei Shen & Weide Shao, 2022. "Influence of Hybrid Pedagogical Models on Learning Outcomes in Physical Education: A Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-16, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:25:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s10902-024-00726-x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.