{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,22]],"date-time":"2026-10-22T10:24:45Z","timestamp":1792664685782,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":83,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,22]],"date-time":"2025-05-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1747872000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["EJIHPE"],"abstract":"<jats:p>As individuals grow older, they experience notable shifts in their health conditions, social positions, and personal identity. Studies show that finding meaning in life correlates with healthier lifestyle choices and enhanced overall well-being. This sense of meaning functions as a protective factor against life\u2019s challenges, strengthening resilience during later years. The research utilized thematic analysis within a qualitative methodology to investigate the subjective sources of meaning among elderly people living in Romanian institutional settings. The analysis revealed several interconnected themes. Religiosity and spirituality emerged as a fundamental anchor, with participants often mentioning God, Divinity, and Higher Power in their narratives. They typically conceptualized life as a sacred gift and emphasized the importance of religious practices such as prayer and church attendance as essential to their sense of purpose. The intergenerational transmission of values also proved significant, with elderly individuals finding meaning in passing down moral and spiritual principles to younger family members, viewing this as their enduring legacy. Interpersonal connections played a crucial role as well, with quality relationships with family and friends fostering a sense of belonging, while broken relationships or isolation negatively impacted well-being. Daily life objectives, including short-term goals like maintaining routines or anticipating family visits, along with preserving functional independence, provided structure and immediate purpose for many participants. The research distinguished between religiosity and spirituality as related but separate concepts: while formal religious rituals offered community-based meaning, those less engaged with organized religion discovered transcendence through personal spiritual experiences such as connecting with nature. This study highlights cultural specificities, particularly how Orthodox Christian traditions shape existential narratives among Romanian elderly, and proposes practical interventions for retirement facilities to incorporate activities focused on spiritual engagement, relationship building, and opportunities for elders to share their wisdom with younger generations.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ejihpe15060091","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,22]],"date-time":"2025-05-22T08:49:57Z","timestamp":1747903797000},"page":"91","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Meaning in Life Among Aged People: A Qualitative Study of an Institutionalized Elderly Sample"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"L\u0103cr\u0103mioara","family":"Cojocaru","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Psichology and Educational Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, 700554 Ia\u015fi, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5195-3109","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Camelia","family":"Soponaru","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Psichology and Educational Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, 700554 Ia\u015fi, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Daniela","family":"Muntele-Hendre\u0219","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Psichology and Educational Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, 700554 Ia\u015fi, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4591-1118","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ciprian","family":"Ceobanu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Psichology and Educational Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, 700554 Ia\u015fi, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1929","DOI":"10.1007\/s10943-014-9896-1","article-title":"Religiousness and mental health: Systematic review study","volume":"55","author":"AbdAleati","year":"2016","journal-title":"Journal of Religion and Health"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1016\/j.paid.2017.10.038","article-title":"The need for meaning and religiosity: An individual differences approach to assessing existential needs and the relation with religious commitment, beliefs, and experiences","volume":"123","author":"Abeyta","year":"2018","journal-title":"Personality and Individual Differences"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"209","DOI":"10.1177\/0002764295039002008","article-title":"Aging well with friends and family","volume":"39","author":"Adams","year":"1995","journal-title":"American Behavioral Scientist"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Agniete, A., Cepuliene, A., Pucinskaite, B., Spangelyte, K., Skruibis, P., and Gailiene, D. (2021). Spirituality and Religiosity during Suicide Bereavement: A Qualitative Systematic Review. Religions, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/rel12090766"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"571","DOI":"10.1007\/s00148-015-0574-8","article-title":"My parents taught Me. Evidence on the family transmission of values","volume":"29","author":"Albanese","year":"2014","journal-title":"Journal of Population Economics"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"239","DOI":"10.1080\/1364436X.2017.1357537","article-title":"Embedding spirituality in young children: An inter-generational challenge","volume":"22","author":"Allana","year":"2017","journal-title":"International Journal of Children\u2019s Spirituality"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"280","DOI":"10.1007\/s12646-011-0091-0","article-title":"Meaning in life: A qualitative inquiry into the life of young adults","volume":"56","author":"Bhattacharya","year":"2011","journal-title":"Psychological Studies"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S121","DOI":"10.1093\/geronb\/61.3.S121","article-title":"Cosmic transcendence and framework of meaning in life: Patterns among older adults in the Netherlands","volume":"61","author":"Braam","year":"2006","journal-title":"The Journals of Gerontology, Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"627","DOI":"10.1080\/13645579.2016.1270583","article-title":"The state of qualitative research in health and social science literature: A focused mapping review and synthesis","volume":"20","author":"Breckenridge","year":"2017","journal-title":"International Journal of Social Research Methodology"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bratt, A. S., and Fagerstr\u00f6m, C. (2023). Perceptions of general attitudes towards older adults in society: Is there a link between perceived life satisfaction, self-compassion, and health-related quality of life?. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20, (4).","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20043011"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa","article-title":"Using thematic analysis in psychology","volume":"3","author":"Braun","year":"2006","journal-title":"Qualitative Research in Psychology"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"295","DOI":"10.1177\/1074840709337247","article-title":"\u201cYou don\u2019t want to burden them\u201d: Older Adults\u2019 Views on Family Involvement in Care","volume":"15","author":"Cahill","year":"2009","journal-title":"Journal of Family Nursing"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"411","DOI":"10.2307\/1387379","article-title":"Religiosity, life meaning and wellbeing: Some relationships in a sample of women","volume":"27","author":"Chamberlain","year":"1988","journal-title":"Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"609","DOI":"10.14257\/AJMAHS.2017.07.90","article-title":"Factors related to meaning of life in middle adults","volume":"7","author":"Chang","year":"2017","journal-title":"Asia-Pacific Journal of Multimedia Services Convergent with Art, Humanities, and Sociology"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"864","DOI":"10.1037\/pspp0000225","article-title":"Meaning is about mattering: Evaluating coherence, purpose, and existential mattering as precursors of meaning in life judgments","volume":"118","author":"Costin","year":"2020","journal-title":"Journal of Personality and Social Psychology"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"30","DOI":"10.1177\/0022167899394003","article-title":"Sources of meaning: An investigation of significant commitments in life","volume":"39","author":"Debats","year":"1999","journal-title":"Journal of Humanistic Psychology"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"770","DOI":"10.1590\/0034-7167-2017-0120","article-title":"The meaning of religion\/religiosity for the elderly","volume":"71","year":"2018","journal-title":"Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem"},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"37","article-title":"Meaning in life and the experience of older people","volume":"14","author":"Derkx","year":"2020","journal-title":"International Journal of Ageing and Later Life"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2016.04.006","article-title":"The acceptability of physical activity interventions to older adults: A systematic review and meta-synthesis","volume":"158","author":"Powell","year":"2016","journal-title":"Social science & medicine"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"52","DOI":"10.1177\/0091415017721932","article-title":"Subjective meanings and identification with middle age","volume":"87","author":"Dolberg","year":"2018","journal-title":"The International Journal of Aging and Human Development"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"460","DOI":"10.1136\/jech.2003.018085","article-title":"Validity of Antonovsky\u2019s sense of coherence scale: A systematic review","volume":"59","author":"Eriksson","year":"2005","journal-title":"Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Eriksson, M., Mittelmark, M. B., Sagy, S., Eriksson, M., Bauer, G. F., Pelikan, J. M., Lindstr\u00f6m, B., and Espnes, G. A. (2017). The sense of coherence and its measurement. The handbook of salutogenesis, Springer Open.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-04600-6"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"517","DOI":"10.1080\/17439760.2013.830761","article-title":"Sources and motives for personal meaning in adulthood","volume":"8","author":"Fave","year":"2013","journal-title":"The Journal of Positive Psychology"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"322","DOI":"10.1093\/geronb\/62.6.P322","article-title":"Social network types among older adults: A multidimensional approach","volume":"62","author":"Fiori","year":"2007","journal-title":"The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences"},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"Frankl, V. (2000). Man\u2019s search for meaning, Beacon Press."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1498","DOI":"10.1177\/0020872817702433","article-title":"The relationship between religiosity\/spirituality, social support, and quality of life among elderly Chilean people","volume":"60","year":"2017","journal-title":"International Social Work"},{"key":"ref_27","first-page":"432","article-title":"The factors influencing the meaning in life in middle-aged adult","volume":"19","author":"Hee","year":"2018","journal-title":"Journal of the Korea Academia Industrial Cooperation Society"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"991","DOI":"10.1177\/0956797612465878","article-title":"Encounters with objective coherence and the experience of meaning in life","volume":"24","author":"Heintzelman","year":"2013","journal-title":"Psychological Science"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1108\/WWOP-01-2019-0001","article-title":"The importance of sources of meaning in life of community dwelling psychologically frail older people","volume":"23","author":"Hoeyberghs","year":"2019","journal-title":"Working with Older People"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"205","DOI":"10.3928\/19404921-20170831-02","article-title":"Examining life goals of community-dwelling, low-income older adults","volume":"10","author":"Howard","year":"2017","journal-title":"Research in Gerontological Nursing"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"590","DOI":"10.1037\/xge0001297","article-title":"Self-transcendence or self-enhancement: People\u2019s perceptions of meaning and happiness in relation to the self","volume":"152","author":"Huang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Journal of Experimental Psychology: General"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hung, Y., Chen, Y., Lee, M., and Yeh, C. (2020). Effect of spousal loss on depression in older adults: Impacts of time passing, living arrangement, and spouse\u2019s health status before death. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph182413032"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"973","DOI":"10.1177\/0969733016680122","article-title":"Meaning in life of older persons: An integrative literature review","volume":"25","author":"Hupkens","year":"2018","journal-title":"Nursing Ethics"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"366","DOI":"10.1093\/geronb\/gbt029","article-title":"Benefits of having friends in older ages: Differential effects of informal social activities on well-being in middle-aged and older adults","volume":"69","author":"Huxhold","year":"2014","journal-title":"The Journals of Gerontology, Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"221","DOI":"10.1111\/opn.12077","article-title":"Sense of meaning in life among the oldest old people living in a rural area in northern Sweden","volume":"10","author":"Norberg","year":"2015","journal-title":"International Journal of Older People Nursing"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Karwetzky, C., Werdecker, L., and Esch, T. (2021). What matters most in life? A german cohort study on the sources of meaning and their neurobiological foundations in four age groups. Frontiers in Psychology, 12.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.777751"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3865","DOI":"10.1007\/s12144-020-00907-w","article-title":"Early parental support and meaning in life among young adults: The mediating roles of optimism and identity","volume":"41","author":"Kealy","year":"2020","journal-title":"Current Psychology"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S650","DOI":"10.1093\/geroni\/igz038.2414","article-title":"Purpose in life protects against cognitive decline among older adults","volume":"3","author":"Kim","year":"2019","journal-title":"Innovation in Aging"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101400","DOI":"10.1016\/j.arr.2021.101400","article-title":"A systematic review of the impacts of intergenerational engagement on older adults\u2019 cognitive, social, and health outcomes","volume":"71","author":"Krzeczkowska","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ageing Research Reviews"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1418","DOI":"10.1177\/0146167213499186","article-title":"To belong is to matter","volume":"39","author":"Lambert","year":"2013","journal-title":"Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.1037\/0882-7974.1.2.117","article-title":"Daily well-being of older adults with friends and family","volume":"1","author":"Larson","year":"1986","journal-title":"Psychology and Aging"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"114393","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2021.114393","article-title":"Theories of self-care and self-management of long-term conditions by community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review and meta-ethnography","volume":"287","author":"Lawless","year":"2021","journal-title":"Social Science & Medicine"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"887","DOI":"10.1007\/s10902-020-00256-2","article-title":"Developing a quadripartite existential meaning scale and exploring the internal structure of meaning in life","volume":"22","author":"Li","year":"2020","journal-title":"Journal of Happiness Studies"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"531","DOI":"10.1080\/17439760.2015.1137623","article-title":"The three meanings of meaning in life: Distinguishing coherence, purpose, and significance","volume":"11","author":"Martela","year":"2016","journal-title":"The Journal of Positive Psychology"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"537","DOI":"10.1016\/S0191-8869(02)00217-9","article-title":"Psychosocial work stressors and well-being: Self-esteem and optimism as moderators in a one-year longitudinal sample","volume":"35","author":"Kinnunen","year":"2003","journal-title":"Personality and Individual Differences"},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"84","DOI":"10.1177\/0898010112463492","article-title":"The role of transcendence in a holistic view of successful aging","volume":"31","author":"McCarthy","year":"2013","journal-title":"Journal of Holistic Nursing"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"151","DOI":"10.1016\/j.annals.2017.07.020","article-title":"Positive emotions and spirituality in older travelers","volume":"66","year":"2017","journal-title":"Annals of Tourism Research"},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"551","DOI":"10.1093\/geronb\/gbaa007","article-title":"Friendships in old age: Daily encounters and emotional well-being","volume":"76","author":"Ng","year":"2020","journal-title":"The Journals of Gerontology, Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"993","DOI":"10.1037\/a0039469","article-title":"Modern attitudes toward older adults in the aging world: A cross-cultural meta-analysis","volume":"141","author":"North","year":"2015","journal-title":"Psychological Bulletin"},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.2190\/B37N-K317-KY8Q-0TNW","article-title":"Family and friend relationships among older and younger adults: Interaction motivation, mood, and quality","volume":"40","year":"1995","journal-title":"The International Journal of Aging and Human Development"},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"443","DOI":"10.1159\/000441651","article-title":"Loneliness and health in older adults: A mini-review and synthesis","volume":"62","author":"Ong","year":"2015","journal-title":"Gerontology"},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"43","DOI":"10.3928\/00989134-20170223-03","article-title":"Definition, determinants, and outcomes of social connectedness for older adults: A scoping review","volume":"43","author":"Sidani","year":"2017","journal-title":"Journal of Gerontological Nursing"},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e317","DOI":"10.1093\/geront\/gnab017","article-title":"Enhancing older adults\u2019 well-being and quality of life through purposeful activity: A systematic review of intervention studies","volume":"62","author":"Owen","year":"2022","journal-title":"The Gerontologist"},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"212","DOI":"10.1093\/geroni\/igab046.820","article-title":"Daily social interactions as a route to purposeful days in older adulthood","volume":"5","author":"Pfund","year":"2021","journal-title":"Innovation in Aging"},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaging.2015.05.004","article-title":"Patient, resident, or person: Recognition and the continuity of self in long-term care for older people","volume":"35","author":"Pirhonen","year":"2015","journal-title":"Journal of Aging Studies"},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rossman, G. B., and Rallis, S. F. (2016). An introduction to qualitative research: Learning in the field, Sage Publications.","DOI":"10.4135\/9781071802694"},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"331","DOI":"10.1080\/02614367.2017.1370007","article-title":"Relationships between leisure activity types and well-being in older adults","volume":"37","author":"Ryu","year":"2018","journal-title":"Leisure Studies"},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1035","DOI":"10.1017\/S0144686X20001300","article-title":"Relational aspects of meaning in life among older people\u2014A group-interview gerontechnology study","volume":"42","author":"Saarelainen","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ageing and Society"},{"key":"ref_59","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"53","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2014.12.049","article-title":"The association between social relationships and depression: A systematic review","volume":"175","author":"Santini","year":"2015","journal-title":"Journal of Affective Disorders"},{"key":"ref_60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"483","DOI":"10.1080\/17439760903271074","article-title":"The sources of meaning and meaning in life questionnaire (SoMe): Relations to demographics and well-being","volume":"4","author":"Schnell","year":"2009","journal-title":"The Journal of Positive Psychology"},{"key":"ref_61","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1163\/157361212X644495","article-title":"Spirituality with and without religion\u2014Differential relationships with personality","volume":"34","author":"Schnell","year":"2012","journal-title":"Archive for the Psychology of Religion"},{"key":"ref_62","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Schnell, T. (2020). The psychology of meaning in life, Routledge.","DOI":"10.4324\/9780367823160"},{"key":"ref_63","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.1016\/j.paid.2005.11.030","article-title":"Personality and meaning in life","volume":"41","author":"Schnell","year":"2006","journal-title":"Personality and Individual Differences"},{"key":"ref_64","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"174","DOI":"10.1177\/0022022101032002005","article-title":"Intergenerational transmission of values: The role of transmission belts","volume":"32","year":"2001","journal-title":"Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology"},{"key":"ref_65","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S283","DOI":"10.1093\/geroni\/igz038.1047","article-title":"The great and the grand: The roles of great-randparents and grandparents in multigenerational families","volume":"3","author":"Schuler","year":"2019","journal-title":"Innovation in Aging"},{"key":"ref_66","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.1093\/geroni\/igac059.222","article-title":"Tracing the religious life course: Inter-and intragenerational sources of later life religiosity in baby boomers","volume":"6","author":"Silverstein","year":"2022","journal-title":"Innovation in Aging"},{"key":"ref_67","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"571","DOI":"10.1111\/sjop.12400","article-title":"The mechanisms behind the formation of a strong Sense of Coherence (SOC): The role of migration and integration","volume":"58","author":"Slootjes","year":"2017","journal-title":"Scandinavian Journal of Psychology"},{"key":"ref_68","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"192","DOI":"10.1080\/13607863.2014.986647","article-title":"Savoring, resilience, and psychological well-being in older adults","volume":"19","author":"Smith","year":"2015","journal-title":"Aging & Mental Health"},{"key":"ref_69","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"S\u00f8rensen, T., Hestad, K., and Grov, E. (2021). Relationships of sources of meaning and resilience with meaningfulness and satisfaction with life: A population-based study of norwegians in late adulthood. Frontiers in Psychology, 12.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.685125"},{"key":"ref_70","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"930","DOI":"10.1093\/geroni\/igab046.3341","article-title":"Transformations and transmission\u2014A contextual look at religious biographies of older adults","volume":"5","author":"Spannari","year":"2021","journal-title":"Innovation in Aging"},{"key":"ref_71","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"470","DOI":"10.1080\/17439760.2015.1117127","article-title":"Social connectedness as a source and consequence of meaning in life","volume":"11","author":"Stavrova","year":"2016","journal-title":"The Journal of Positive Psychology"},{"key":"ref_72","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1207","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.1814723116","article-title":"Leading a meaningful life at older ages and its relationship with social engagement, prosperity, health, biology, and time use","volume":"116","author":"Steptoe","year":"2019","journal-title":"Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America"},{"key":"ref_73","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"308","DOI":"10.1093\/geroni\/igad104.1024","article-title":"New directions in research on the dynamics of purpose in life and cognitive aging","volume":"7","author":"Sutin","year":"2023","journal-title":"Innovation in Aging"},{"key":"ref_74","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1189","DOI":"10.2147\/JMDH.S452081","article-title":"Social contact and belonging among older people receiving home care nursing","volume":"17","author":"Tomstad","year":"2024","journal-title":"Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare"},{"key":"ref_75","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"709","DOI":"10.1177\/07334648211033671","article-title":"Older adults\u2019 goals and expectations when using long-term services and supports","volume":"41","author":"Travers","year":"2021","journal-title":"Journal of Applied Gerontology"},{"key":"ref_76","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Van Leeuwen, K., Van Loon, M., Van Nes, F., Bosmans, J., De Vet, H., Ket, J., Widdershoven, G., and Ostelo, R. (2019). What does quality of life mean to older adults? A thematic synthesis. PLoS ONE, 14.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0213263"},{"key":"ref_77","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"279","DOI":"10.1007\/s10699-014-9387-6","article-title":"Meaning in life: Meeting the challenges","volume":"21","author":"Wolf","year":"2014","journal-title":"Foundations of Science"},{"key":"ref_78","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"311","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-29424-7_27","article-title":"Meaning-seeking, self-transcendence, and well-being","volume":"Vol. 1","year":"2016","journal-title":"Logotherapy and existential analysis proceedings of the viktor frankl institute vienna"},{"key":"ref_79","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"242","DOI":"10.1007\/s11031-018-9737-8","article-title":"Threats to belongingness and meaning in life: A test of the compensation among sources of meaning","volume":"43","author":"Zhang","year":"2018","journal-title":"Motivation and Emotion"},{"key":"ref_80","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113374","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2020.113374","article-title":"Intergenerational communities: A systematic literature review of intergenerational interactions and older adults\u2019 health-related outcomes","volume":"264","author":"Zhong","year":"2020","journal-title":"Social Science & Medicine"},{"key":"ref_81","first-page":"2840","article-title":"Qualitative research on the sources of meaning in life in community elderly people","volume":"35","author":"Zhou","year":"2019","journal-title":"The Journal of Practical Nursing"},{"key":"ref_82","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zhou, J., Zhang, Y., Ren, Q., Li, T., Lin, G., Liao, M., Chen, S., Tong, P., and Gao, Y. (2023). Mediating effects of meaning in life on the relationship between family care, depression, and quality of life in Chinese older adults. Frontiers in Public Health, 11.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2023.1079593"},{"key":"ref_83","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"373","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ssmph.2016.04.009","article-title":"Spirituality, religiosity, aging and health in global perspective: A review","volume":"2","author":"Zimmer","year":"2016","journal-title":"SSM-Population Health"}],"container-title":["European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2254-9625\/15\/6\/91\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T17:38:19Z","timestamp":1760031499000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2254-9625\/15\/6\/91"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,22]]},"references-count":83,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6]]}},"alternative-id":["ejihpe15060091"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ejihpe15060091","relation":{},"ISSN":["2254-9625"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2254-9625","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,22]]}}}