@Article{ijmhp.2023.029155,
AUTHOR = {Shu Nie, Jiyoon Lim, Xintian Xu, Lei Zheng, Yiqun Gan},
TITLE = {Meaning in Life and Mental Health Issues in Older Adults: A Meta-Analysis},
JOURNAL = {International Journal of Mental Health Promotion},
VOLUME = {25},
YEAR = {2023},
NUMBER = {9},
PAGES = {971--984},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/IJMHP/v25n9/53776},
ISSN = {2049-8543},
ABSTRACT = {This study aims to be the first to use meta-analysis to explore the relationship between meaning in life (MIL) and mental health issues among older adults. A meta-analysis was conducted using six databases, resulting in 16 studies with 5,074 participants in total. The “metacor” and “forestplot” packages in R-Studio were used for data analysis. The total effect was calculated using a random-effects model, with I² = 86% in the heterogeneity test. The results showed a moderate negative correlation between MIL and mental health issues among older adults, with an average effect of −0.37. Five potential moderating variables were examined: the conceptualization of MIL (value <i>vs</i>. purpose), region (Asian <i>vs</i>. Western countries), residence status (community <i>vs</i>. nursing home <i>vs</i>. hospital), types of mental health issues, and evaluation methods (clinical <i>vs</i>. non-clinical). The first four had no significant moderating effect. The mean correlation coefficients between mental health issues and value/purpose were −0.49/−0.33; the mean correlation coefficients in Asian countries and Western countries were −0.48 and −0.34; the mean correlation coefficients among participants living in community/nursing home/mixed status were −0.33/−0.40/−0.40; the mean correlation coefficients between MIL and depression/others were −0.37/−0.35; however, the negative relationship between MIL and mental health issues was stronger when non-clinical evaluations (self-report only) were used. Specifically, the mean correlation coefficient for non-clinical evaluations was −0.42 and for clinical evaluations was −0.29. This study is the first meta-analysis to identify the negative correlation between older adults’ MIL and mental health issues. Significant moderating effects of evaluation methods were found.},
DOI = {10.32604/ijmhp.2023.029155}
}