Meaning in life: understanding this challenging field of study

Authors

  • Grazielli Padilha Vieira Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
  • Ana Cristina Garcia Dias Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-6564e200149

Keywords:

meaning in life, positive psychology, logotherapy, psychometric measures

Abstract

Meaning in life has been considered a key variable to the understanding of human well-being in the last decades. However, the study of this concept is much older and has received contributions from Philosophy, Logotherapy and, recently, Positive Psychology and psychometric studies, thus becoming measurable. This article explores the paths of meaning in life as a construct over time and discusses the contributions of some psychology theories to the concept, including the tripartite view of meaning in life. Finally, we discuss the challenges faced by researchers and clinical psychologists to work with this construct.

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Author Biographies

  • Grazielli Padilha Vieira, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

    Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil

  • Ana Cristina Garcia Dias, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

    Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil

Published

2021-11-08

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Meaning in life: understanding this challenging field of study. (2021). Psicologia USP, 32, e200149. https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-6564e200149