Meaning in Life as a Mediator Between Physical Impairment and the Wish to Hasten Death in Patients With Advanced Cancer.

Context: Meaning in life (MiL) is a key factor for ensuring spiritual well-being and quality of life among patients with life-threatening illnesses. However, the role of MiL in relation to the wish to hasten death (WTHD) and its interaction with other physical and psychological factors in patients with advanced cancer has not yet been studied.

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between the WTHD and MiL and to propose a theoretical model of functional relationships among WTHD, performance status, depression, and MiL.

Understanding meaning in life interventions in patients with advanced disease: A systematic review and realist synthesis.

Background: Among patients with advanced disease, meaning in life is thought to enhance well-being, promote coping and improve the tolerance of physical symptoms. It may also act as a buffer against depression and hopelessness. As yet, there has been no synthesis of meaning in life interventions in which contextual factors, procedures and outcomes are described and evaluated.

What Gives Meaning in Life to Patients With Advanced Cancer? A Comparison Between Spanish, German, and Swiss Patients.

Context: Meaning in life (MiL) is a construct that varies across individuals, situations, cultures, and countries, and protects against emotional distress at the end of life.

Objectives: To examine MiL in inpatients with advanced cancer from Barcelona, Spain, and to compare the findings with those obtained in German and Swiss samples.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which the Schedule for Meaning in Life Evaluation (SMiLE) was administered.