Purpose in Life, Satisfaction with Life, and Suicide Ideation in a Clinical Sample

“Other studies (Moum, 1996 ; Diener & Seligman, 2002 ; Heisel & Flett, 2004 ) found life satisfaction to be a significant negative predictor of suicidal ideation.”

“…ideation and lower lifetime odds of a suicide attempt, thus emphasizing the idea that meaningful life indeed is a life worth living (Harlow, Newcomb, & Bentler, 1986; Heisel & Flett, 2004; Henry et al., 2014; Kleiman, Adams, Kashdan, & Riskind, 2013; Kleiman & Beaver, 2013; Lester & Badro, 1992).”

“For example, Albee (1982) and Cowen (1994) pioneered primary prevention programs based on notions of wellness, and Hayes and colleagues (Blackledge & Hayes 2001, Hayes et al. 1999) pioneered a therapy designed to help clients clarify and enact their values.”

“Similarly, for people with a strong purpose in life, extreme negative affect is not linked with suicidal ideations (Heisel & Flett, 2004).”

“The efficacy expectancy reflects one’s perception that he or she can act effectively, whereas the hope theory emphasizes one’s perception that he or she will act effectively.”

“Meaning in life is associated with lower incidence of psychological disorders (Mascaro & Rosen, 2005; Owens, Steger, Whitesell, & Herrerra, 2009; Steger & Kashdan, 2009) and suicidal ideation, even within the context of depression (Heisel & Flett, 2004).”

“Participant sample Self-related moderator variable Risk factor Measure of suicidality Significant interactions Remarks Lieberman et al., 2005 Israeli male soldiers, N=230 Self-esteem measured using the RSES General health (namely mental distress, perceived functioning, and perceived health) measured using a Hebrew ver…”

“Studies show that a lack of meaning and purpose in life is associated with increased psychopathology, suicidal ideation, and problems of adjustment to trauma ( Heisel & Flett, 2004; Thompson, Coker, Krause, & Henry, 2003), whereas higher levels of purpose and meaning in life are associated with more religious beliefs,…”

“…Bailey, & Van Der Horst, 2007), reasons for living (Malone et al., 2000), hope (Snyder & Rand, 2004), meaning in life (Edwards & Holden, 2001; Heisel & Flett, 2004), religion or spirituality (Dervic et al., 2004), and even humor (Richman, 1993) could be innovative and promising ways to…”

“Finally, other studies find that purpose in life, a distinct but conceptually related factor to meaning in life, is associated with decreased suicidal ideation (Harlow et al., 1986; Heisel and Flett, 2004).”

“…studies treated life satisfaction either as an outcome variable (e.g., Gebauer et al. 2008; Laudet and White 2008; Vecchio et al. 2007) or as a predictor (e.g., Heisel and Flett 2004; Swami et al. 2007), several studies examined the mediating influence of life satisfaction on problem behaviour.”

“…of psychological disorders (Mascaro & Rosen, 2005; Owens, Steger, Whitesell, & Herrera, 2009; Steger & Kashdan, 2009) and suicidal ideation (Heisel & Flett, 2004), slower age-related cognitive decline (Boyle, Buchman, Barnes, & Bennett, 2010), and decreased mortality (Boyle, Barnes,…”

“Many tragedies—suicides, mass shootings, terrorist bombings—more likely result from feeling that one does not matter or that one’s existence has no purpose (e.g., Heisel & Flett, 2004; Kruglanski, Chen, Dechesne, Fishman, & Orehek, 2009).”

“A key consideration is whether the potentially vulnerable perfectionist has established a sense of personal meaning; personal meaning is a protective factor, especially among older people (e.g., Heisel & Flett, 2004, 2006, 2014; Moore, 1997).”

“…adjustment and well-being (Chou, 2000; Compton, 2000; Desormeaux, 2000; Labelle et al., 2001; Moomal, 1999; Smith & Zautra, 2004; Thompson, Coker, & Krause, 2003), while according to others it acts as a mediator (Harlow, Newcomb, & Bentler, 1986; Heisel & Flett, 2004; Newcomb & Harlow, 1986).”

“In the existing literature, many studies treated life satisfaction either as an outcome variable (e.g., Gebauer et al. 2008) or as a predictor (e.g., Heisel and Flett 2004), while several studies examined the mediating influence of life satisfaction on problem behaviour (McKnight et al. 2002; Suldo…”

“Consistent with this, the concept of psychological resilience has received a growing attention lately [21–25].”

“…Mascaro & Rosen, 2005), hope (Feldman & Snyder, 2005), alcohol and drug use (e.g., Lecci, MacLean, & Croteau, 2002), coping with physical illness ( Jim & Anderson, 2007), suicidal ideation (e.g., Heisel & Flett, 2004), and many other aspects of physical and psychological health (Steger, in press).”

“Similarly, among psychiatric patients, Heisel and Flett ( 2004 ) found that purpose in life and satisfaction with life accounted for variance in suicide ideation above and beyond the variance accounted for by negative psychological factors including neuroticism, depression, and social hopelessness.”

“We found specifically that older adults who endorse significantly greater MIL report better health, more life satisfaction, psychological wellbeing, social support, and PIL, and less depression, hopelessness, and suicide ideation (Heisel & Flett, 2006, 2008, 2014).”

“However, in a small sample of psychiatric patients, Heisel and Flett (2004) found no support for the assumption that life satisfaction buffers the impact of depression on suicide ideation.”

“…levels of SWB in adolescents have been associated with various problems such as suicide, sexual risk-taking behaviors, violent behaviors, aggression, depression, and problematic Internet use (Cao et al. 2011; Heisel and Flett 2004; MacDonald et al. 2005; Suldo and Huebner 2006; Valois et al. 2002).”

“Therefore, it would be exciting to conduct a comparative study to examine differences between the Western and Chinese adolescents for observing the related cultural differences.”

“…meaning in life is associated with lower levels of a variety of distressful or unhealthy variables such as, thoughts of suicide (Harlow et al. 1986; Heisel and Flett 2004), loneliness (Stillman et al. 2009), smoking cigarettes (Konkoly Thege et al. 2009), using alcohol (Waisberg and Porter 1994),…”

“can be regarded as a potential protective factor against hopelessness (Heisel and Flett 2004).”

“Research has affirmed these anecdotal links between meaning in life with suicidal ideation and behavior in clinical samples (Heisel and Flett 2004) and among bereaved individuals (Ulmer et al. 1991).”

“…2009), decreased mortality (Boyle et al., 2009; Krause, 2009), slower age-related cognitive decline (Boyle et al., 2012), and lower incidence of several psychological disorders, including suicidal ideation (Heisel & Flett, 2004; Mascaro & Rosen, 2005; Owens et al., 2009; Steger & Kashdan, 2009).”

“We have previously investigated risk and resiliency to suicide ideation in clinical adult and heterogeneous older adult samples, and reported positive associations between suicide ideation and risk factors, including depression and hopelessness, and negative associations between suicide ideation and resiliency factors…”

“Recent research has demonstrated that social hopelessness is not only associated with suicidal ideation (Heisel & Flett, 2004) but that it can discriminate between high- and low-ideating groups when general hopelessness failed to do so (Heisel, Flett, & Hewitt, 2003).”

“We also set out to investigate trait resilience (Waugh, Fredrickson, & Taylor, 2008), life satisfaction (Heisel & Flett, 2004), and self-esteem (Brausch & Gutierrez, 2010; Fliege, Lee, Gro et al., 2009).”

“Research on suicide ideation among psychiatric patients and older adults suggests that perceived meaning in life, life satisfaction, adaptive coping, lack of hopelessness, and degree of religious commitment may increase psychological well-being and decrease suicide risk (69,70).”

“Additionally, MiL was found to moderate associations between SI and depression [43] and between risk factors for suicide and hopelessness [19,49].”

“Evidence supporting the construct validity of the FSII can be established if it is found to be positively associated with measures assessing for suicide risk factors, and negatively associated with measures assessing for suicide protective factors (e.g., Heisel and Flett 2004).”

“…2007; Zika & Chamberlin, 1992), depression, (e.g. Mascaro & Rosen, 2005), alcohol and drug use (e.g. Lecci, MacLean, & Croteau, 2003), risk of Alzheimer disease (Boyle, Buchman, Barnes, & Bennett, 2010), and suicidal ideation (e.g. Heisel & Flett, 2004; see Steger, 2012 for further examples).”

“…are consistent with previous results indicating a negative association between meaning in life and risk of suicide in nonclinical (Edwards & Holden, 2003; Hunter & O’Connor, 2003; Kleiman, Adams, Kashdan, & Riskind, 2013; Kleiman & Beaver, 2013) and clinical populations (Heisel & Flett, 2004).”

“PIL showed higher protective effect against suicide ideations when depressive scores were higher [16].”

“As depression, positive affect, and negative affect all have been associated with suicidal ideation (Heisel & Flett, 2004; Watson, Clark, & Carey, 1988), this suggests a possible link between autonomy and suicidal ideation as well.”

“…Flett, 2008), as well as a moderating effect of meaning in life on the relationship of dysfunctional coping (Edwards & Holden, 2001) and depression (Heisel & Flett, 2004) with suicidal ideation; but, to our knowledge, this is the first study that shows a direct association of stronger meaning in…”

“Individuals with suicidal ideation attribute their current state to a lack of meaning in life (Heisel & Flett, 2004).”

“As the absence of positive emotions and satisfaction can contribute to suicidality (13), consideration of the degree of patients’ positivity may be needed in estimating suicide attempts.”

“Furthermore, having less meaning in life has been associated with depression and anxiety (Debats et al., 1993), substance abuse (Harlow et al., 1986), suicidal ideation (Heisel & Flett, 2004), and greater need for therapy (Battista & Almond, 1973).”

“…Psychology | www.frontiersin.org 11 September 2020 | Volume 11 | Article 553313 satisfaction was identified as a mediator on the relationship between friendship quality and social competence (Clayton, 1999); life satisfaction was found to positively predict meaning in life (Heisel and Flett, 2004).”

“…Doron, & Gelkopf, 2009; Westerhof, Bohlmeijer, van Beljouw, & Margriet, 2010) and anxiety (Ishida & Okada, 2006), suicidal ideation and drug abuse (Edwards & Holden, 2001; Fitzpatrick, 2009; Heisel & Flett, 2004; Kinnier, Metha, Keim, & Okey, 1994; Rahman, 2001; Waisberg & Porter, 1994).”

“…in life, and cognitive processes (like cognitive rigidity, cognitive deconstruction, and hopelessness) were not examined, although these variables have been shown to be significantly associated with suicidal ideation (Baumesteir, 1990; Heisel & Flett, 2004; Nock et al., 2008; Nock & Kazdin, 2003).”

“…Heisel & Flett, 2016) or young people (Lasgaard, Goossens, & Elklit, 2011; Mazza & Reynolds, 1998); have been conducted in clinical populations (Heisel & Flett, 2004; Yamokoski et al., 2011); or have included a cross-sectional design (Almeida et al., 2012; Stravynski & Boyer, 2001; Yamokoski…”

“Some indirect support for this assumption may be seen in Heisel and Flett's ( 2004 ) finding that MIL appeared most protective against suicide ideation at higher, rather than lower, depression.”

“The SWLS has demonstrated strong psychometric properties, including internal consistency (Heisel & Flett, 2004), test–retest reliability (Diener et al., 1985), and convergent and discriminant validity, such as positive relationships with measures of well-being, negative relationships with measures…”

“It is suggested that completion of suicide is a balanced consequence, depending on the presence of risk factors and the absence of protective factors against suicide.(25) However, most of the available studies about the preeminence of psychache in suicidality have only involved negative psychological variables, such a…”

“…2006; Urbán, Kugler, Oláh, Szilágyi, 2006; Williams, Cox, Hedberg, and Deci, 2000; Zhua and Valbø, 2002) and life meaning (Feldman and Snyder, 2005; Heisel and Flett, 2004; Konkolÿ Thege and Martos, 2006; Martos, Szabó, and Rózsa, 2006; Tuicomepee and Romano, 2005; Waisberg and Starr,…”

“Another factor that has been linked to suicidal ideation is subjective wellbeing (e.g., Heisel & Flett, 2004; Inder et al., 2014).”

“opportunities for socialization, engagement in meaningful activities, purpose in life) that allows for older adults to maintain or foster that resiliency [89].”

“Meaning in life correlates with self-esteem, satisfaction with life, and optimism, to a moderate extent (e.g., Feder et al. 2008; Heisel and Flett 2004; Ho et al. 2010; Lyubomirsky et al. 2006; Pinquart and Frohlich 2009; Steger and Frazier 2005; Steger and Kashdan 2007; Vaughan and Kinnier 1996).”

“…Joiner, 2005; Purcell et al., 2012); and Perceived Meaning in Life (8 items), reflecting theory (Frankl, 1985) and research suggesting that Meaning in Life (MIL) enhances psychological resiliency and reduces risk for suicide (Breitbart et al., 2010; Heisel & Flett, 2004, 2008, 2014; Moore, 1997).”

“Deficits of purpose have been scientifically associated with psychopathologies such as depression and suicide (see e.g. Heisel and Flett 2004) and problems of adjustment to trauma (e.g. adjustment to spinal cord injury; Thompson et al. 2003).”

“The concept of QHL indicates that people are in need of a variety of health-care services, and the better they satisfy these needs, the greater they experience superior quality of their lives (Heisel and Flett 2004).”