The International Forum for Logotherapy, 1995, 18, 121-126.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST TO

LOGOTHERAPISTS

Burbank, P. [College of Nursing, U. of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881 USA] (1992). Assessing the meaning in life among older adult clients. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 18, 19-28.

This research employed 81 persons affiliated with a Senior Center who completed an instrument developed by the author (Fulfillment of Meaning Scale) to explore what factors are perceived as meaningful (meaning framework) and the degree that meaning is experienced (meaning fulfillment). Approximately 10% stated their lives were meaningless. Previous studies of categories of what is meaningful in individual's lives (meaning framework) are reviewed. As in the reviewed literature, the largest number of respondents indicated Relationships to be the most important category of things that give meaning to their life (Relationships = 57%, Religion = 13%, Service = 12%, Activities = 10%; other categories totaled 8%).

Capone, C. [Nassau Co. Dept. of Drug and Alcohol Addiction, Building K, Nassau Co. Med. Ctr, Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow, New York 11554 USA], et al. (1992). A cognitive-existential analysis of counselor responses to HIV-positive substance misusers in an outpatient methadone program and a residential therapeutic community. The International Journal of the Addictions, 27 , 587-611.

The introduction to this paper outlines an integrative conceptualization of cognitive and existential concepts (including logotherapy) as a framework from which to view counselor reactions to HIV-positive clients. In the study presented (of self-reported feelings, thoughts, and behaviors of 19 counselors of HIV-positive substance abusers), counselors reported increased stress from working with HIV-positive individuals; and cognitive distortions were sometimes noted.

D'Braunstein, S., & Ebersole, P. [Psychology Dept., California State U., Fullerton, California 92634 USA] (1992). Categories of life meaning for service organization volunteers. Psychological Reports, 70, 281-282.

This is a summary of a study in which service organization volunteers (34 student volunteers to a summer camp for underprivileged children) and regular students (106 introductory psychology students) wrote essays on what was most personally meaningful to them. A system for categorizing meanings was applied to the essays. The volunteers' life-meanings were rated as richer and deeper. There was not a statistically significant difference in the rates the two groups selected Service (a helping, giving orientation). The volunteers selected Growth (self-improvement and understanding) more frequently than did the regular students. The authors suggest that effective recruitment of volunteers should include emphasis of opportunities for personal development.

Ellis, J. [Psychology Dept., Box 21970A, East Tennessee State U., Johnson City, Tennessee 37614 USA], & Range, L. (1992). Mood influences on reasons for living in older adolescents. Psychiatry, 55, 216-222.

This experiment (with 132 college students) manipulated mood (elation vs. depression vs. 2 control groups) in a study of characteristics that may keep a person from considering suicide. The elation group then obtained higher scores on the Expanded Reasons for Living Inventory. These results suggest that by enhancing mood we may enhance persons' awareness of their personal meanings.

Gemmill, G. [School of Management, Syracuse U., Syracuse, New York 13244 USA], & Oakley, J. (1992). The meaning of boredom in organizational life. Group and Organization Management, 17, 358-369.

This paper discusses boredom in the workplace as connected to either too much or too little stimulation in the work. The authors build a case that society considers the experience of boredom/meaninglessness to be a personal failing rather than a defect in the social system itself. A result is that acknowledgement and awareness of boredom/meaninglessness is suppressed; and thus the social system's contribution to boredom/meaninglessness goes unexamined; and psychophysical or psychosocial disturbances result. The authors present some ideas about interventions.

Harvey, J. H. [Psychology Dept., U. of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242 USA], et al. (1992). House of pain and hope: Accounts of loss. Death Studies, 16, 99-124.

This paper outlines a model by Harvey and colleagues of how humans deal with loss through account making and confiding. The theory is richly supported by references to works of numerous authors (including Frankl). This paper then outlines some research findings on experiencing meaning and growth following bereavement, abuse, and dissolution of relationships. Logotherapists will benefit in their understanding of attitudinal values if they look on Harvey's "loss" as "suffering," "account making" as "discovering meanings," and "confiding" as "relationships."

Jenerson-Madden, D. [Dept. of Counseling, California State U., Fullerton, California 92634 USA], Ebersole, P., & Romero, A. M. (1992). Personal life meaning of Mexicans . Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 7, 151-161.

This study used the PIL test and the Meaning in Life Depth (MILD) instrument to compare groups of low socio-economic level adults recently arrived from Mexico vs. groups of predominantly middle class Caucasian adults. No significant differences in depth of life-meaning were found with either the PIL test or MILD instrument. Few claimed to have no meaning at all. "Relationships" was most frequently noted by both groups as the prime source of personal meaning--the Mexican group reported "Relationships" more frequently than did the Caucasian group; the Caucasian group reported "Beliefs" more frequently that did the Mexican group.

Lantz, J. [1947 College Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210 USA] (1992). Meaning, "nerves," and the urban-Appalachian family. Journal of Religion and Health, 31 , 129-139.

This article discusses the application of Franklian family therapy to "nerves" (a term often used by urban people of Appalachian heritage to describe distress following migration to an urban area). Network Intervention, Existential Reflection, and Social Skills Training are highlighted. A case illustration and data (physician visits; PIL scores) from a descriptive clinical study (involving 28 families) are included.

Lantz, J. [1947 College Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210 USA] (1992). Resistance in family logotherapy . Contemporary Family Therapy, 14, 405-418.

This paper discusses family logotherapy, particularly treatment resistance that develops in reaction to the family's growing awareness that change to a more meaningful family life will include the side effects of vulnerability and responsibility. A number of pathogenic patterns that families use to avoid meaning awareness are discussed along with the task of the therapist to help the family overcome the resistance.

Lantz, J. [1947 College Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210 USA] (1992). Using Frankl's concepts with PTSD clients . Journal of Traumatic Stress, 5, 485-490.

This paper reviews major Franklian treatment concepts and provides a case illustration of the treatment with an adult molested as a child.

Lantz, J. [1947 College Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210 USA], & Harper, K. (1992). Stories and tales in logotherapy with urban-Appalachian families. Contemporary Family Therapy, 14, 455-466.

This article describes the use of stories/tales with Urban-Appalachian families to bring repressed meanings to the conscious level of family awareness. A case illustration family with several examples of stories/tales is included.

Lantz, J. [1947 College Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210 USA], & Lantz, J. (1992). Franklian psychotherapy with adults molested as children. Journal of Religion & Health, 31, 297-307.

This paper discusses five stages of Franklian treatment and emphasizes transforming the client's experiences of trauma as a child to discover meaning potentials in the adult's daily life. Case illustrations from two clients are included.

Lester, D. [Center for Study of Suicide, RR41, 5 Stonegate Court, Blackwood, New Jersey 08012 USA], & Badro, S. (1992). Depression, suicidal preoccupation, and purpose in life in a subclinical population. Person. Individ. Diff., 13, 75-76.

In this study, 120 undergraduates were administered the PIL test and the Beck Depression Inventory, plus questions about prior suicide behaviors. Both tests correlated significantly with current suicidal ideation. Additionally, the PIL significantly predicted previous suicidal ideation, threat, and attempt. The authors indicate that sense of life-meaning, combined with level of depression, can help in the prediction of suicide behaviors.

Scarnati, R. [Dept. of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, U. of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267 USA] (1992). Prison psychiatrist's role in a residential treatment unit of dangerous psychiatric inmates. Forensic Reports, 6, 367-384.

Discusses an eclectic therapy program on a special residential treatment unit for violent psychiatric offenders. The program includes logotherapy, and the author states the belief that "the principles of logotherapy can provide the most meaningful understanding for inmates for coping with the prison environment."

Schwartzberg, S. [McLean Hosp., Adult Outpatient Clinic, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, Massachusetts 02178 USA] (1992). Aids-related bereavement among gay men: The inadequacy of current theories of grief. Psychotherapy, 29, 422-429.

Regarding gay men, this author asserts: (a) the omnipresence of AIDs and loss, (b) unique aspects of life and grief, (c) shortcomings of traditional approaches to grief, and (d) the necessity of finding meaning in loss.

Shek, D. [Dept. of Social Work, The Chinese U. of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong] (1992). Meaning in life and psychological well-being: An empirical study using the Chinese version of the Purpose in Life questionnaire. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 153, 185-200.

The Chinese version of the PIL test was administered to 2,150 secondary school students, along with measures of psychological well-being. Results showed that: (a) total PIL as well as sub-scales (Quality of Existence, Purpose of Existence) correlated significantly with well-being; (b) relative to Purpose scores, Quality scores were more predictive of well-being; and (c) existential statuses (high vs. low Quality vs. Purpose) were related to different degrees of well-being.

Ulmer, A. [U. of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 39401 USA], Range, L., & Gale, T. (1992). Loneliness and depression related to reasons for living. Death Studies, 16, 183-189.

In this study of 288 military enlistees, loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale) and depression (Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale) were inversely related to reasons for living (Reasons for Living Scale). Loneliness level was a better predictor of reasons for living that was depression level. The authors suggest a loneliness scale might do better than a depression scale as a suicide screening instrument for some populations.

Zika, S., & Chamberlain, K. [Dept. of Psychology, Massey U., Palmerston North, New Zealand] (1992). On the relation between meaning in life and psychological well-being. British Journal of Psychology, 83, 133-145.

This paper reviews literature on life-meaning and its relation to well-being. Then supportive data taken from a larger research project are presented. Relationships between three measures of life-meaning (PIL test, Life Regard Index, and Sense of Coherence scale) and three dimensions of well-being (life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect) are examined in two samples (194 mothers at home, 150 elderly persons). In both samples scores of the three life-meaning instruments related to each other at moderate to high levels. Measures of life-meaning and well-being related to each other at moderate levels, with stronger associations between life-meaning and positive dimensions of well-being than between life-meaning and negative dimensions of well-being.