Beyond meaning in life
How a perceived futility in searching for meaning in life predicts suicidal ideation
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12095524 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Michael J Kyron (0000-0002-4862-1047, The University of Western Australia, corresponding author), Andrew C Page (0000-0003-3133-2844, The University of Western Australia), Wai Chen (0000-0002-0477-7883, The University of Western Australia), Jaime Delgadillo (0000-0001-5349-230X, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London), Hanh Ngo (0000-0001-8711-5887, The University of Western Australia) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Pages | 1-11 |
| Publication date | 2025-07-24 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Death Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0748-1187 • E-ISSN: 1091-7683 |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/07481187.2025.2529281 |
| PMID | 40705844 |
| OpenAlex | W4412623182 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 24 |
Existential nihilism, the belief that life lacks inherent meaning, has been linked to poor mental health. While research has identified that the presence of meaning protects against suicidal ideation, little empirical research has explored the relationship between existential nihilism and suicidal ideation. This study explored the direct and moderating effects of existential nihilism on suicidal ideation in a sample of 775 university students over three time points. Results indicated that existential nihilism directly predicted suicidal ideation, independent of meaning in life and depressive symptoms. Additionally, existential nihilism moderated the relationship between interpersonal difficulties and suicidal ideation, amplifying the impact of interpersonal struggles on suicidal thoughts. These findings underscore the importance of existential beliefs in understanding suicide risk and highlight the clinical relevance of addressing existential distress in mental health interventions for young adults. Future research should further examine existential factors in suicide prediction and prevention strategies
Meaning (existential · Meaning of life · Medical emergency · Poison control · Psychoanalysis · Psychotherapist · Suicidal ideation · Suicide ideation · Suicide prevention · Clinical Psychology · Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion · Medicine · Psychology · Resilience and Mental Health · Social Psychology · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
The Wiley World Handbook of Existential Therapy
The Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale ( Sidas )
The three meanings of meaning in life
The integrated motivational–volitional model of suicidal behaviour
A meaningful life is worth living
The short‐form version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (Dass‐21)
The interpersonal theory of suicide.
The Relationship Between Presence of Meaning, Search for Meaning, and Subjective Well-Being
Psychiatry and man's quest for meaning
Associations between meaning in life and suicidal ideation in young people
The interpersonal theory of suicide
Psychometric properties of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) in a sample of Australian adolescents
The meaning in life questionnaire
| Highly cited | No |
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