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Social Sciences
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New Thinking on Psychological Health: Find Purpose and Meaning in...
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New Thinking on Psychological Health: Find Purpose and Meaning in Life

A special issue of Social Sciences (ISSN 2076-0760).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 July 2023) | Viewed by 6032

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Carol D. Ryff

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Hilldale Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
2. Director, Institute on Aging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
3. Principal Investigator, MIDUS National Longitudinal Study, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
Interests: psychological well-being; eudaimonia; purpose in life; morbidity; mortality; physiological mechanisms; brain mechanisms; socioeconomic disparities; racial disparities; culture; integrative health science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Andrew Soren
*
E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
1. Founder & CEO, Eudaimonic by Design, Halifax, NS B3H 3L7, Canada
2. Instructional Team, Master of Applied Positive Psychology Program, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
3. Board Member, International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA), Apple Valley, MN 55124, USA
Interests: eudaimonia; applied positive psychology; positive organizational development (focus on leadership and institutional culture); human resources development; coaching; ethics; performing arts and humanities
* Co-Chair, IPPA World Congress on Positive Psychology, 2023

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent years have seen notable changes in the science and practice of mental health. Traditionally formulated in terms of psychological disorders, the new thinking has focused on diverse aspects of well-being. Key among these new directions have been studies of purposeful life engagement and the pursuit of meaningful lives. This Special Issue seeks to deepen and broaden work in these areas. One route of expansion is to bring greater attention to the life domains (work, family, community, civic engagement) in which experiences of purpose and meaning are nurtured, or possibly undermined. Another direction is to bring greater emphasis to surrounding social structural contexts, such as socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, cultural background, surrounding physical environments. How do these contextual influences matter for purpose and meaning? Growing science has linked purpose in life to health, defined as increased longevity, reduced risk of disease, better physiological regulation, brain-based assessments of emotion regulation, and gene expression. These also constitute promising areas of expansion—for whom do these effects occur? Under what conditions? In what contexts? From the perspective of application, key questions pertain to whether purpose and meaning are modifiable. Can these aspects of well-being be cultivated, including among those who do not typically have such experiences? What interventions have been shown to have impact and in what domains? Finally, there is merit in revisiting the theoretical and conceptual foundations of purpose and meaning to illuminate how such ideas intersect with critical humanism and commitments to address major societal challenges, such as climate change, growing inequality, and the pandemic.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in IJERPH.

Prof. Dr. Carol D. Ryff
Guest Editor

Andrew Soren
Co-Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Social Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • purposeful life engagement
  • meaningful living
  • life domains
  • social and environmental contexts
  • longevity
  • disease risk
  • physiological regulation
  • brain mechanisms
  • gene expression
  • interventions
  • theory
  • philosophy
  • societal change

Published Papers (4 papers)

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30 pages, 4331 KiB  
Article
A Meaningful Synergy: The Integration of Character Strengths and the Three Types of Meaning in Life
by Pninit Russo-Netzer, Ricardo Tarrasch and Ryan M. Niemiec
Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(9), 494; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12090494 - 1 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1232
Abstract
Two areas that have scientifically erupted in the last two decades are the sciences of meaning and of character strengths, yet the integration of these areas has been minimal. Some studies have drawn significant connections between character strengths and meaning in life; however, [...] Read more.
Two areas that have scientifically erupted in the last two decades are the sciences of meaning and of character strengths, yet the integration of these areas has been minimal. Some studies have drawn significant connections between character strengths and meaning in life; however, the samples have been limited, the measures have not measured or separated the types of meaning, and/or the studies have not gathered data from participants on the nuances of meaning. We conducted a large-scale, mixed methods study with 23,641 participants, spanning more than 100 countries. We measured the 24 character strengths using the VIA Inventory of Strengths and the three components of meaning—coherence/comprehension, significance/mattering, and purpose—using the Multidimensional Existential Meaning Scale. Participants shared their observations on how their chosen character strength was helpful for coherence, purpose, and significance. Meaning scales were significantly correlated with all character strengths. The strongest predictors of overall meaning were hope, spirituality, zest, curiosity, and gratitude. We found gender differences for character strengths and types of meaning, as well as age trends. Finally, we qualitatively analyzed the answers explaining the selections of character strengths, and assessed differences between gender and age. We discuss the findings within this intersection as well as ramifications for the scientific synergy of character strengths and meaning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Thinking on Psychological Health: Find Purpose and Meaning in Life)
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22 pages, 338 KiB  
Article
Windjammer: Finding Purpose and Meaning on a Tall Ship Adventure
by Gunvor Marie Dyrdal and Helga Synnevåg Løvoll
Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(8), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12080459 - 17 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1847
Abstract
The Windjammer project started in 2018 as a social entrepreneurship program in Norway for adolescents at risk of social drop-out and societal exclusion. While the effects on society of such programs are difficult to measure, aspects such as perceived meaning in life are [...] Read more.
The Windjammer project started in 2018 as a social entrepreneurship program in Norway for adolescents at risk of social drop-out and societal exclusion. While the effects on society of such programs are difficult to measure, aspects such as perceived meaning in life are largely overlooked in the literature. This study explored wellbeing and the processes of creating meaning among adolescents at risk during a one-month tall ship adventure. Three methodological approaches were used. First, psychological and demographic data from the Windjammer participants (n = 122) were compared to a national adolescent survey (Ungdata, n = 793,879) serving as a comparison group. Second, using sensory ethnography, the sailing experience of seven adolescents from one adventure was explored in depth through interviews while onboard the ship. Third, a mixed-methods approach was used to further explore three individual adolescents’ experiences of the adventure. Overall findings show that Windjammers experienced life as less meaningful than the general adolescent population. Interviewed Windjammers talked about transformative experiences, although quantitative data showed a slight decrease in meaning following the adventure. Overall, the tall ship adventure was found to involve four overarching themes: commitment, social wellbeing, familiarization with seamanship, and self-acceptance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Thinking on Psychological Health: Find Purpose and Meaning in Life)
11 pages, 258 KiB  
Article
Does Activism Mean Being Active? Considering the Health Correlates of Activist Purpose
by Patrick L. Hill, Payton D. Rule and Megan E. Wilson
Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(8), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12080425 - 25 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1090
Abstract
Individuals with a purpose in life tend to experience better health outcomes, in part because they engage in healthier lifestyle behaviors. However, it is unclear whether these associations are due to the sense of purpose, or if the form of purpose may also [...] Read more.
Individuals with a purpose in life tend to experience better health outcomes, in part because they engage in healthier lifestyle behaviors. However, it is unclear whether these associations are due to the sense of purpose, or if the form of purpose may also correlate with health indicators. The current study examined this claim, with regard to activist purpose, or a commitment to engaging in social activism and causes, given that this type of purpose may be especially vulnerable to health risks. In a cross-sectional study of 307 US adults (mean age: 38.1 years), participants completed surveys regarding their activist purpose, sense of purpose, health, and health behaviors. In addition, we asked participants about their other purpose orientations: prosocial, occupational, personal recognition, and creative purposes in life. The results suggested consistent evidence of positive associations between a sense of purpose, self-rated health, and health behaviors. The activist purpose levels were positively associated with a higher health behavior engagement, but not with the indices of self-rated health. Other purpose orientations exhibited similarly weak-to-null associations with health. The findings are discussed with regard to whether activist purpose should be viewed as health-promoting, and what future research should be conducted to evaluate this claim. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Thinking on Psychological Health: Find Purpose and Meaning in Life)

Other

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18 pages, 390 KiB  
Essay
Building Bridges, Forging New Frontiers: Meaning-Making in Action
by Pninit Russo-Netzer
Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(10), 574; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12100574 - 13 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1553
Abstract
The need to experience life as meaningful is fundamental to human nature. Recent years have witnessed a growing sophistication in assessing meaning in life (MIL) and new conceptualizations regarding its place within general models of well-being and coping. As part of this surge [...] Read more.
The need to experience life as meaningful is fundamental to human nature. Recent years have witnessed a growing sophistication in assessing meaning in life (MIL) and new conceptualizations regarding its place within general models of well-being and coping. As part of this surge in research, increased attention has been given to the understanding, assessment, and practice of MIL in numerous arenas and contexts. However, despite these advancements, further knowledge is needed to explore the application of meaning interventions across more diverse contexts and non-clinical populations in the general community. The purpose of the present paper is to expand the existing knowledge on meaning-oriented interventions by introducing a community-based initiative that is directly responsive to this need. This includes describing its approach to meaning-making on multiple fronts: (1) Socratic Questions in the Public Sphere; (2) the Tribe Intergenerational Life Stories Project; (3) Literature, Arts, and Museums as Meaning-Making Sites; and (4) Education for Meaning. Each of these initiatives is described to propose more context-sensitive interventions that are applicable to everyday life in general society. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Thinking on Psychological Health: Find Purpose and Meaning in Life)
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