title: Meaning in Life and depressive symptoms: a person-oriented approach in residential and community-dwelling older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In current society, an increasing population of older adults and a high prevalence of depressive symptoms in late life is noticeable. A possible protective resource is 'Meaning in Life'. The objective of this study is to identify from a person-oriented view (a) Meaning in Life-profiles, based on Presence of Meaning and Search for Meaning dimensions, and (b) their associations with depressive symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 205 residential older adults (M = 83.20 years, SD = 7.26) and 280 community-dwelling older adults (M = 75.98 years, SD = 4.76) completed questionnaires of Meaning in Life and depressive symptoms. First, cluster analyses examined potential Meaning in Life-profiles. Second, analyses of variance tested associations between these distinct profiles and depressive symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both samples, three distinguishable profiles emerged, a 'Low Presence Low Search', a 'High Presence High Search' and a 'High Presence Low Search'. Furthermore, older adults with a High Presence Low Search profile witnessed less depressive symptoms, compared to those with a Low Presence Low Search profile. Residential older adults within the High Presence High Search cluster scored in-between the two other clusters for depressive symptoms. However, community-dwelling older adults within this cluster reported similar levels of depressive symptoms as the High Presence Low Search group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Similar Meaning in Life-profiles were detected in residential as well as community-dwelling older adults. In both samples, older adults with a High Presence Low Search profile reported less depressive feelings, pointing to the importance of spontaneously experiencing Meaning in Life in this life stage.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology, Research Group Clinical Psychology , University of Leuven, KU Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van der Heyden
authors.forename: Jessie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dezutter
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Beyers
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Meaning in Life; cluster analyses; depressive symptoms; older adults