The International Forum for Logotherapy, 1991, 15, 56-61.

Broten, Patricia S. [Western Michigan University; Ed.D.; University Microfilms Order Number ADG91-31135] (1991). Spiritual care given by nurses and spiritual well-being of terminally ill cancer patients. Dissertation Abstracts International, 52 (05), 2497B.

In this Dissertation, terminally ill cancer patients hospitalized on oncology units were surveyed about their perceptions of their spiritual well-being, and about spiritual care provided by nurses and others. In the patient records, there was limited documentation of spiritual care given, even though patients reported that nurses along with pastoral care representatives, family, and friends had provided care. Documentation which did exist generally referred to the patient's religion or choice of clergy. Patients scored higher on measures of religious well-being than they did on existential measures of purpose and meaning of life.

Irvine, Andrew R. [University of St. Andrews (United Kingdom); Ph.D.; University Microfilms Order Number ADGDX-87939] (1989). Isolation and the parish ministry. Dissertation Abstracts International, 50(11), 3624A.

This Dissertation examined the concept of isolation as it occurs within the profession of ministry. The author reviewed eight psychological perceptions of isolation as found in the works of Freud, Adler, Fromm, Horney, Laing, Sullivan, and Frankl; and determined that a primary isolation from the SELF was common to all perspectives of isolation. A model of isolation was proposed and applied to the profession of ministry (Church of Scotland ministers). A mail survey consisted of a questionnaire to measure experienced isolation, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and the PIL test. Some respondents were randomly selected for direct interviews. The study concluded with a summary of the findings and their implications for the ministry of the church. The primary finding was that isolation is not primarily an inter-relational problem, but rather an intra-relational phenomenon.

Miller, Carol M. [Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA; DMin] (1989). Oh chrysalis - of what do you speak: Faith transformation in the lives of dying children and their families .

This Ministry Project asked how faith transformation can happen for dying children and their families. The project utilized logotherapy and an understanding of the wilderness experiences of the Isrealite people and Jesus to propose a framework for turning faith crises into faith transformations. Using a case study method, based on existing research studies, the project showed how a family facing the death of a child can turn faith crises into a deepening faith.

Maurer, Wendi S. [United States International University; Ph.D.; University Microfilms Order Number ADG91-07118] (1990). The relationship between personal meaning in life and coping orientations. Dissertation Abstracts International, 51(12), 6094B.

Results of this Dissertation (using healthy, adult, volunteer subjects) indicated a positive correlation between personal meaning (measured by the Life Attitude Profile Inventory) and three out of the four coping orientations from the Coping Orientations and Prototypes Inventory: Reliance Coping(r=.48), Religious Coping (r=.35) and Accomodation Coping (r=.36). Active Withdrawal Coping (r=.09) did not correlate with personal meaning. Females used Reliance Coping significantly more that males. Future Meaning to Fulfill predicted Reliance Coping. Existential Vacuum and lack of Life Control predicted Active Withdrawal Coping. Will to Meaning and lack of Life Control predicted Religious Coping. Will to Meaning, Life Purpose and lack of education predicted Accommodation Coping. Results of the study were interpreted as supporting the proposition that personal meaning is a valid index of coping.

Newman, Ann M. [University of Alabama at Birmingham; D.S.N.; University Microfilms Order Number ADG91-34235] (1991). The effects of the arthritis self-help course on arthritis self-efficacy, perceived social support, purpose and meaning in life, and arthritis impact in people with arthritis. Dissertation Abstracts International, 52(06), 2995B.

In this Dissertation the Roy Adaptation Model of Nursing and Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory were used as a framework to investigate the effect of the Arthritis Foundation endorsed Arthritis Self-Help Course (ASHC) on: self-efficacy, perceived social support, purpose and meaning in life, and arthritis impact. The Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale, the Personal Resource Questionnaire, the PIL test, and the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales were administered to people with arthritis. Relative to a control group, the ASHC participants achieved a statistically significant increase in arthritis self-efficacy for pain management and for other symptoms. Arthritis self-efficacy for function, perceived social support, purpose and meaning in life, and arthritis impact scores were not significantly affected by participation or non-participation in the course. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of the ASHC as a self-management strategy using experiential activity in ameliorating some of the consequences in adapting to arthritis.

Picklesimer, Billie K. [University of Georgia; Ph.D.; University Microfilms Order Number ADG91-33524] (1991). The development and evaluation of the life-skills development inventory--college form. Dissertation Abstracts International, 52 (06), 2029A.

The purpose of this Dissertation was to develop (including normative data, reliability, and validity) the Life-Sills Development Inventory--College Form. One of the four subscales of the instrument is labelled Identity Development/Purpose in Life.

Powell, Jerry D. [Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; DMin] (1989). The development of a suicide prevention class for initial trainees in a United States Army training center using logotherapy techniques.

This Ministry Project addressed stress issues and developed logotherapy oriented suicide prevention classes/techniques specifically for U. S. Army basic trainees. A suicide prevention class was also developed and presented to major commanders in an Army installation. The PIL test was administered, and follow-up counseling was conducted with those whose scores indicated lack of purpose in life.

Reid, Jon K. [Texas Woman's University; Ph.D.; University Microfilms Order Number ADG91-19214] (1990). The relationship between personal authority in the family system and the discovery of meaning in life. Dissertation Abstracts International, 52 (04), 1214A.

This Dissertation investigated the relationship between intergenerational family relations (measured by the Personal Authority in the Family System Questionnaire) and variables related to Frankl's concept of meaning in life (measured by the Life Attitude Profile-Revised, by Gary Reker). The basic research question asked if an individual remains able to experience meaning in life in spite of family of origin relations that lack in personal authority and are characterized by fusion, intimidation, and/or low intimacy. The results suggested the existence of a relationship between one's family of origin relationships and discovery of meaning in life.

Sheth, Kamal [San Jose State University; M.S.; University Microfilms Order Number ADG13-41700] (1990). Relationship between perceived meaning in life and death anxiety in the elderly . Masters Abstracts International, 29(02), 209.

This Thesis explored the relationship between death anxiety (measured by Templer's Death Anxiety Scale) and meaning in life (measured by PIL test) in the elderly. Joyce Travelbee's Human-to-Human Relationship Model (1966), based on logotheory, formed the conceptual framework. Lower death anxiety (in males only) correlated significantly with higher meaning in life (r=-.81). The influence of religion on death anxiety was not significant. Recommendations included: a) promote nursing awareness of mortality in the care of clients, b) use logotherapy with elderly, c) combine family support, income, education, and level of independence, to explore further associations with meaning in life.

Stevenson, Sue L. M. [University of Arizona; Ph.D.; University Microfilms Order Number ADG90-00783] (1989). The sense of meaning and purpose of hospice family members during the grief process. Dissertation Abstracts International, 50(08), 3679B.

This Dissertation assessed the process (and related factors) of meaning loss for family members who care for terminally ill loved ones in a Hospice program. The overall conclusion of this study was that Hospice caregivers possess a unique and similar sense of meaning in life that may be due to sharing a common experience. It was hypothesized that a unifying factor in those choosing to enter a Hospice program attracts a homogeneous group of people. Meaning in life (measured by the PIL test) tended to be higher for those caregivers who were less close in relationship to the patient: such as nieces, nephews, and in-laws. It was concluded from a factor analysis that the PIL test taps two main factors: Purpose in Life and Contentedness With Life.

Tweed, Sandra H. [University of Wisconsin--Madison; Ph.D.; University Microfilms Order Number ADG91-26451] (1991). Factors influencing the psychological adjustment of adult children of alcoholics. Dissertation Abstracts International, 52(06), 3312B.

This Dissertation investigated the psychological adjustment of adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) and examined potential risk and protective factors that influence adjustment. The part of the results of this large study that are of particular relevance to logotherapists are the absence of differences between ACOAs and Controls on well-being measures. Purpose in life was one of the several well-being measures employed in this study.

Tweedy, David G. [United States International University; Ph.D; University Microfilms Order Number ADG91-28472] (1991). Assessing stress and strain in emergency medical physicians: A study of personal meaning. Dissertation Abstracts International, 52(05), 2812B.

This Dissertation used emergency physicians to demonstrate that stress predicts strain. A second hypothesis, which stated that Personal Meaning functions as a mediator of strain, was not supported overall. However, Existential Vacuum (considered one of six Personal Meaning variables in this research) did predict strain. Existential Vacuum was correlated with Depersonalization, Somatic Indicators, and a composite strain index. This indicates that possessing a sense of meaninglessness tends to be associated with burnout, as well as increasing risk for physical illness and strain. It was recommended that the education of physicians incorporate the existential literature of Viktor Frankl and others into discussion groups. Instruments employed: demographic questions, Social Readjustment Rating Scale, Life Attitude Profile-Revised, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Kobasa's Somatic Indicators checklist.

Wheeler, Inese P. [University of Georgia; Ph.D.; University Microfilms Order Number ADG91-17334] (1990). The role of meaning and purpose in life in parental bereavement. Dissertation Abstracts International, 52(04), 2319B.

In this Dissertation, bereaved parents completed a written questionnaire consisting of the PIL test, the Grief Experience Inventory, and a series of rating and open-ended questions. Results were that parents in the first four years of bereavement reported lower meaning in life than parents who had been bereaved for more than four years. Lower meaning in life was also found for those parents who had lost more than one child, an only child, or a child by suicide. Those parents who reported they had found no meaning since the death of their child had the lowest scores. Parents who reported they had found specific meanings had higher scores than the no meaning group but lower scores than parents who reported they had found generalized meanings. The descriptive data gathered in the study suggest that many parents are able to re-invest in life in spite of severe crisis of meaning for the bereaved parents. Most bereaved parents reported some positive changes in themselves as resulting from the bereavement.

Wishinski, Susan R. [Southern Connecticut State University; M.S.N.; University Microfilms Order Number ADG13-40020] (1990). The relationship between perception of purpose in life and drug use in the college student. Masters Abstracts International, 28 (04), 585.

In this Thesis, demographic questions, drug use questions, and the PIL test were administered to college students. Significant findings indicated an association between longevity of drug use, age, and PIL test scores.

The International Forum for Logotherapy, 1992, 15, 122-127.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST

TO LOGOTHERAPISTS

Bengesser, G. & Sokoloff, S. (1989). After suicide-postvention. European Journal of Psychiatry, 3, 116-118.

This paper states that general practitioners, psychiatrists, and policemen should take the initiative in suicide cases by encouraging those bereaved to make use of "postvention" facilities. It states that patients suffering guilt and severe depression following a suicide should seek treatment with antidepressants and several listed psychotherapies, including logotherapy.

Callan, D. [Cancer Family Care Inc., Florence, Kentucky 41042, USA] (1989). Hope as a clinical issue in oncology social work. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 7(3), 31-46.

This paper outlines a framework, developed from logotherapy and psychosocial oncology, that focuses on hope in the counseling of cancer patients. Special attention is given to the tasks of identifying a patient's source of hope, distinguishing authentic hope from denial, and using hope to change maladaptive coping behaviors.

Dukes, R. [U. Colorado, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907, USA] & Lorch, B. (1989). The effects of school, family, self-concept, and deviant behaviour on adolescent suicide ideation. Journal of Adolescence, 12, 239-251.

Results of a youth survey linked suicide ideation with adolescent ideological and emotional disparity with parents. Results also linked suicide ideation with disparity between the importance placed on academic achievement and the satisfaction with actual achievement. The linkage was through the intervening variables of self-esteem, purpose in life, alcohol use, and eating disorder. Findings are interpreted to suggest family interaction as a significant contributor to hopelessness and self-derogation, which are linked to suicidal thoughts/behavior.

Ebersole, P. [California State U., Fullerton, California 92634, USA] & DePaola, S. (1989). Meaning in life depth in the active married elderly. Journal of Psychology, 123, 171-178.

In this study, the PIL test was used to measure satisfaction with personal depth of life-meaning. A meaning essay about individuals' strongest life-meaning was rated for depth. On the PIL, elderly persons scored significantly above the PIL manual norms for younger adults. However, elderly persons' essays were rated significantly lower in depth than a previous sample of younger adults. It was suggested that elderly persons are better able to appreciate life but less able to communicate their depth of appreciation.

Ebersole, P. [California State, U., Fullerton, California 92634, USA] & Flores, J. (1989). Positive impact of life crises. Journal of Social Behavior & Personality, 4, 463-469.

Undergraduates completed a questionnaire about the most painful experience of their life, its long-term effects, and its impact on their personal life meaning. 87% of those who rated the impact of long-term crises positively also reported a positive change in personal life-meaning. This was interpreted to support the idea that cognitive changes induced by painful experiences present a means of evolving and strengthening personal life-meaning.

Ebersole, P. [California State U., Fullerton, California 92634, USA] & Quiring, G. (1989). Social desirability in the Purpose-in-Life Test. Journal of Psychology, 123, 305-307.

This study administered the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale and the PIL test to undergraduates, and found only a modest relationship between the two. While the findings were consistent with those of Snavely (1962), the correlations accounted for only a small proportion of the total variance, and, thus, it was concluded that social desirability is only a minor factor in PIL scores.

Gorman, Brian F. [United States International University; PH.D.; Microfilms Order Number DA8923920] (1989). The fear of success, self-transcendence, and the high performance athletic personality. Dissertation Abstracts International .

In this Dissertation the PIL test, Fear of Success Scale, and 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire were administered to 125 athletes. Comparisons were made between athletes who were both relatively self-transcendent and relatively not fearful of success, and a theoretical high performance personality profile pertinent to athletes. The results were interpreted as suggesting that the personality of the high-performance athlete is rather self-transcendent and success-oriented with a propensity toward emotional maturity and composure, plus a tendency toward stability, adaptability, spontaneity, and daring; there was also a tendency toward being independent, and dealing with life confidently and boldly.

Hermans, H. [U. of Nijmegen, Dept. of Clinical and Personality Psychiatry, Montessorilaan 3, P. O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands] (1989). The meaning of life as an organized process. Psychotherapy, 26, 11-22.

In this article, the subjective experience of life-meaning is theorized to be an organized process that is characterized by a number of personal valuations ordered into a composite whole, with ongoing changes and reorganizations over time. Logotheory and other theories are incorporated into this conceptualization. Two studies using a self-confrontation procedure for assessing life-meaning are presented.

Hershberger, P. [Psychology Service, VA Medical Center, 4100 W. Third St., Dayton, Ohio 45428, USA] (1990). Self-complexity and health promotion: Promising but premature. Psychological Reports, 66, 1207-1216.

This research (based upon the author's doctoral dissertation) focused on self-complexity, defined as the number of nonredundant aspects by which the self is cognitively represented. It was hypothesized that self-complexity functions as a buffer against the adverse consequences of high stress. Unsuccessful attempts were made to increase the self-complexity of college students through the use of psychoeducational interventions, with the goal of decreasing physical symptoms. The previously reported (Linville, 1987) buffering interaction was evident among those experiencing the strongest intervention. The relationship between self-complexity and sense of life-meaning was discussed, but null research results were obtained from this particular study.

Johnson, M. [Missouri Western State Coll., St. Joseph, Missouri 64507, USA] & Mullins, P. (1990). Moral communities: Religious and secular. Journal of Community Psychology, 18, 153-166.

This study considered the extent to which community groups (social/service clubs, professional organizations, churches) constitute "moral communities" (coherent social networks that support meaningful human relationships by fostering common attitudes, values, and practices). Data from psychology students, adults who were contacted at home and adults attending church indicated that for many persons community groups constitute moral communities, that such groups differ in the intensity and frequency of moral community feelings, and that the religious congregation is most likely to inspire feelings of moral community. Feelings of moral community were significantly correlated with reduced feelings of mass society and increased feelings of self-esteem and life-meaning.

Lantz, J. [6641 High St., Suite L, Worthington, Ohio 43085, USA] (1989). Family logotherapy with an overweight family. Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, 11, 287-297.

This paper postulates that existential vacuum develops in families that don't experience a sense of family meaning, and many symptoms fill the existential vacuum. Family logotherapy is described as a means to facilitate the family search for meaning. Components of family logotherapy include existential reflection, existential countertransference, ritual, restitution, suggestion, environmental modification, dereflection, and paradoxical intention. In an example, the therapy was used with a family in which the mother, father, and daughter were overweight because the family used overeating to fill a family existential vacuum. Using family logotherapy, the family was able to gain meaning and lose weight.

Lantz, J. [6641 High St., Suite L, Worthington, Ohio, 43085, USA] & Harper, K. (1989). Network intervention, existential depression, and the relocated Appalachian family. Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, 11, 213-223.

This paper reports that relocated Appalachian families often suffer from existential depression due to separation from meanings discovered in both nature and the family's extended network back home. Networking to expand the family's extended network and to reconnect the family with nature is recommended. Network intervention strategies and existential reasons for their use with the families are described.

Lantz, J. [6641 High St., Suite L, Worthington, Ohio 43085, USA] & Pegram, M. (1989). Cross cultural curative factors and clinical social work. Journal of Independent Social Work, 4, 55-68.

This paper reviewed 8 cross-cultural curative factors identified in anthropology literature, and described their usefulness (including case materials) in the practice of clinical social work. The 8 factors are physical intervention, world view of respect, hope, helper attractiveness, control, rites of initiation, cleansing experiences, and existential realization.

Pfost, K. [Illinois State U., Normal, Illinois 61761, USA], Stevens, M., & Wessels, A. (1989). Relationship of purpose in life to grief experiences in response to the death of a significant other. Death Studies, 13, 371-378.

Undergraduates who experienced the recent death of a relative or friend completed the PIL test and the Grief Experience Inventory. Persons with little meaning in their lives appeared to experience more intense anger in response to the death. This relationship was not moderated by passage of time since the loss.

Ryff, C. [Dept. of Psychology, Brogdan Hall, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA] (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 1069-1081.

This paper integrated existing theories of psychological well-being and concluded there are six dimensions: self-acceptance, positive relations with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and personal growth. Assessment instruments were constructed to assess each of the six dimensions. The purpose in life instrument was designed such that high scores would meet the following definition: Has goals in life and a sense of directedness; feels there is meaning to present and past life; holds beliefs that give life purpose; has aims and objectives for living. Psychometric properties of the instruments (taken from a large sample of healthy, well-educated adults) were presented.

Shek, D. [Chinese U. of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong] (1989). Perceptions of parental treatment styles and psychological well-being in Chinese adolescents. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 150, 403-415.

This study found that parental treatment styles were correlated with Chinese adolescents' general psychiatric morbidity, anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms, purpose in life, and ego strength. The strongest correlations were with total scores on the PIL test. The findings were suggested to indicate that Chinese adolescents' recollections of their parents' treatment styles are significantly associated with the adolescents' psychological well-being defined by several criteria.

Stetz, K. [U. Washington, School of Nursing, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA] (1989). The relationship among background characteristics, purpose in life, and caregiving demands on perceived health of spouse caregivers. Scholarly Inquiry for Nursing Practice, 3, 133-153.

In this study, caregiver spouses of terminally ill persons were administered the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale and measures of caregiving demands, role alterations, purpose in life, and general health perceptions. A stronger sense of purpose in life was positively associated with perceived health. A higher level of caregiver uncertainty was negatively associated with health.

Weinstein, L. [Marymount Coll., Salina, Kansas 67401, USA] & Cox, L. (1989). College students are more bored than college faculty. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 27, 69-70.

This study compared the scores on the PIL test of undergraduates and faculty at a secular college with those of age-matched undergraduates and faculty from a religious college.