Existential Insights in Cancer: Meaning in Life Adaptability
Previous research demonstrated that the cancer diagnosis and treatment evoke existential concerns, especially ones related to meaning in life and meaning-making processes. The cancer experience is a vital challenge that often entails changes in what is personally important in life. Firstly, this pap...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Medicina |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/58/4/461 |
| _version_ | 1797410182853033984 |
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| author | David F. Carreno Nikolett Eisenbeck |
| author_facet | David F. Carreno Nikolett Eisenbeck |
| author_sort | David F. Carreno |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Previous research demonstrated that the cancer diagnosis and treatment evoke existential concerns, especially ones related to meaning in life and meaning-making processes. The cancer experience is a vital challenge that often entails changes in what is personally important in life. Firstly, this paper collects evidence supporting that meaning adaptability, the way people adapt their meaning in life to the cancer experience, is a central element in the mental health of cancer patients. Various theories that could account for this meaning adaptability are introduced. Secondly, the paper provides a compilation of studies showing how people change what is significant in their lives within the course of cancer. Finally, the paper presents the available psychological therapies directed to facilitate meaning adaptability in this population. Meaning-centered interventions have been demonstrated to be effective in alleviating the suffering related to the cancer experience and promoting personal growth. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:26:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cda71f6c587142b1aaca8eade13cc766 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:26:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj.art-cda71f6c587142b1aaca8eade13cc7662023-12-03T13:40:55ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442022-03-0158446110.3390/medicina58040461Existential Insights in Cancer: Meaning in Life AdaptabilityDavid F. Carreno0Nikolett Eisenbeck1Department of Psychology, University of Almería, 04120 Almeria, SpainDepartment of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment, University of Seville, 14004 Seville, SpainPrevious research demonstrated that the cancer diagnosis and treatment evoke existential concerns, especially ones related to meaning in life and meaning-making processes. The cancer experience is a vital challenge that often entails changes in what is personally important in life. Firstly, this paper collects evidence supporting that meaning adaptability, the way people adapt their meaning in life to the cancer experience, is a central element in the mental health of cancer patients. Various theories that could account for this meaning adaptability are introduced. Secondly, the paper provides a compilation of studies showing how people change what is significant in their lives within the course of cancer. Finally, the paper presents the available psychological therapies directed to facilitate meaning adaptability in this population. Meaning-centered interventions have been demonstrated to be effective in alleviating the suffering related to the cancer experience and promoting personal growth.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/58/4/461meaning in lifecancerpsychological therapymeaning-centered psychotherapyvalues |
| spellingShingle | David F. Carreno Nikolett Eisenbeck Existential Insights in Cancer: Meaning in Life Adaptability Medicina meaning in life cancer psychological therapy meaning-centered psychotherapy values |
| title | Existential Insights in Cancer: Meaning in Life Adaptability |
| title_full | Existential Insights in Cancer: Meaning in Life Adaptability |
| title_fullStr | Existential Insights in Cancer: Meaning in Life Adaptability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Existential Insights in Cancer: Meaning in Life Adaptability |
| title_short | Existential Insights in Cancer: Meaning in Life Adaptability |
| title_sort | existential insights in cancer meaning in life adaptability |
| topic | meaning in life cancer psychological therapy meaning-centered psychotherapy values |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/58/4/461 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT davidfcarreno existentialinsightsincancermeaninginlifeadaptability AT nikoletteisenbeck existentialinsightsincancermeaninginlifeadaptability |