Comparison of the Meaning of Life between Older School-age Children and Their Parents: A Mixed-methods Analysis

Purpose@#This mixed-methods study was conducted to compare and analyze the perceptions of children and their parents regarding the meaning of the children’s life. @*Methods@#First, children’s and parents’ perceptions of the meaning of life were analyzed using a quantitative approach, and the cognitive differences between children and parents were then confirmed through a qualitative approach. We integrated the collected data comprehensively. @*Results@#Ten significant differences (awareness of strong points, recognizing oneself as a precious being, relationships with friends, happy memories, liking people, experiencing difficulty, dreams and goals, experiencing love, appreciating life, helping people who are poorer than me) were identified between children and parents. The results of the content analysis of the qualitative data were divided into two variables: children’s experiences of the meaning of life (78 significant statements, 32 sub-themes, and 10 themes) and parents’ perceptions of the meaning of life of their children (89 significant statements, 36 sub-themes, and 10 themes). @*Conclusion@#Based on these results, we propose developing meaning-centered intervention programs for children and parents and applying them for educational purposes. By doing so, we expect that meaning-centered education for elementary school students will become more active.

Systematic Review of Meaning-centered Interventions for Adolescents

PURPOSE: This study analyzes meaning-centered intervention studies conducted in Korea and abroad to compare and confirm their characteristics and results. METHODS: A literature search using keywords in English and Korean was performed using nine electronic databases in December 2017. Search participants included adolescents, and interventions conducted in meaning-centered intervention studies were selected for evaluation. A Risk of Bias Assessment tool for non-randomized studies was used for quality assessment. RESULTS: All studies were based on quasi-experimental designs. The semantic intervention included topics such as freedom, choice, responsibility, pain, death, finding value of life, purpose and meaning of life, and becoming a master of my life. All studies used logotherapy, and included meaningful interventions that influenced the meaning and purpose of the life of adolescents. The life satisfaction of adolescents changed significantly when there is a positive and open relationship with their parents. Therefore, an educational program for parents based on meaning therapy is desperately needed. CONCLUSION: Meaning-centered interventions were found to be effective interventions for exploring the meaning of life not only for adolescents with problems but also for healthy youth, and as such could be used as basic data for the development of an appropriate intervention for enhancing their life.

An Integrative Review of Meaning-Centered Intervention Studies for Patients with Advanced or Terminal Cancer

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to review studies of Meaning-Centered Intervention (MCI) in advanced or terminal cancer patients using Whittemore and Knafl's integrative review method. METHODS: We conducted a literature search using nine English or Korean electronic databases by using the keywords ‘meaning therapy OR meaning-centered intervention OR psychotherapy’. All studies were original articles about MCI in peer-reviewed journals from inception to August 2017. A risk of bias assessment tool for non-randomized studies was used for quality assessment. RESULTS: Seventeen studies matched the criteria. Thirteen studies assessed through RoBANS had a low risk of bias in most areas. The most frequently used tools were 8 group intervention sessions around 90 or 120 minutes in length. The outcome variables used in this study were quality of life, anxiety, depression, meaning of life, and spiritual well-being. The purpose of MCI was to improve the spiritual well-being and quality of life for patients by finding meaning in life even when faced with cancer. CONCLUSION: In this study, spiritual care was identified as an important factor from the MCI applied evidence-based data. The MCI could be effective way to improve spiritual well-being for the patients with advanced or terminal cancer and their families.

A Study on the Job Satisfaction of the Physician Assistant (PA) Male Nurses: A Mixed-method Design / 한국직업건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This is a mixed method study to understand the experience regarding the job satisfaction of Physician Assistant (PA) male nurses. METHODS: First, factors influencing job satisfaction were analyzed using quantitative approach and job adaptation processes by qualitative research was done through interviews. Finally both of the collected data were comprehensively compared. RESULTS: The factors which had the greatest influence on job satisfaction in the regression analysis were job stress (β=-.49, p<.001) and job identity (β=.46, p<.001) and the explanatory power explaining these variables was 58% (Adj. R²=.58). The results of qualitative research were categorized using the same four variables with qualitative research variables. Five themes in job satisfaction, three themes in job identity, five themes in job stress and six themes in job value were identified by content analysis. CONCLUSION: This finding identified that the job stress and job identity were important variables related to job satisfaction. Therefore, the factors influencing job identity have to be strengthened, and a systematic management and interest to develop them are necessary.