title: Meaning in life: an important factor for the psychological well-being of chronically ill patients?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate 2 dimensions of meaning in life--Presence of Meaning (i.e., the perception of your life as significant, purposeful, and valuable) and Search for Meaning (i.e., the strength, intensity, and activity of people's efforts to establish or increase their understanding of the meaning in their lives)--and their role for the well-being of chronically ill patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 481 chronically ill patients (M = 50 years, SD = 7.26) completed measures on meaning in life, life satisfaction, optimism, and acceptance. We hypothesized that Presence of Meaning and Search for Meaning will have specific relations with all 3 aspects of well-being.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cluster analysis was used to examine meaning in life profiles. RESULTS supported 4 distinguishable profiles (High Presence High Search, Low Presence High Search, High Presence Low Search, and Low Presence Low Search) with specific patterns in relation to well-being and acceptance. Specifically, the 2 profiles in which meaning is present showed higher levels of well-being and acceptance, whereas the profiles in which meaning is absent are characterized by lower levels. Furthermore, the results provided some clarification on the nature of the Search for Meaning process by distinguishing between adaptive (the High Presence High Search cluster) and maladaptive (the Low Presence High Search cluster) searching for meaning in life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study provides an initial glimpse in how meaning in life may be related to the well-being of chronically ill patients and the acceptance of their condition. Clinical implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Research Group Clinical Psychology, University of Leuven.
authors.forename: Jessie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dezutter
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casalin
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wachholtz
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Luyckx
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hekking
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vandewiele
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires