Making Meaning in Life: A Thematic Review of Successful Experimental Psychological and Psychotherapeutic Interventions

This review sought to identify thematic elements of causal interventions that significantly increase people's reports of meaning in life.The author draws on existing reviews and meta-analyses of clinical interventions, as well as additional review of other research methods from which causality may be indicated, specifically social psychological experiments and psychotherapeutic modalities.The aim of the present review is not to catalogue every single such intervention, but to describe with a high degree of inclusion the themes and focal points of published efforts to change meaning in life.Eight focal points and five themes were identified across the hundreds of studies identified.It is suggested that to the extent researchers and practitioners target interventions at these focal points and themes, they may anticipate being able to benefit those who participate in such interventions.Further, it is hoped that these focal points and themes may facilitate bridges between meaning in life research and practice and other disciplines.