Journals / Hemşirelik Bilimi Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 9 Sayı: 2

The Relationship Between Acceptance of the Past and The Meaning of Life Among Psychiatric Patients

Psikiyatri Hastalarında Geçmişi Kabul Etme ile Yaşamın Anlamı Arasındaki İlişki

Sevgi Nehir(MANİSA CELÂL BAYAR ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0003-1761-786X
Nihan Durgu(MANİSA CELÂL BAYAR ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-7430-9316
Melek Türk(Manisa Ruh Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları Hastanesi)0000-0003-1304-7505
Pages
207–216
Publication Date
2026-08-21
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Conclusion: It was determined that psychiatric patients had a moderate level of both acceptance of the past and meaning in life.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between acceptance of the past and the meaning of life among psychiatric patients.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted with 141 patients receiving treatment in a psychiatric hospital between February 2024 and November 2024.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:Conclusion: It was determined that psychiatric patients had a moderate level of both acceptance of the past and meaning in life.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:2024 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Hasta · Kabul · Psikiyatri

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between acceptance of the past and the meaning of life among psychiatric patients. Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted with 141 patients receiving treatment in a psychiatric hospital between February 2024 and November 2024. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Accepting the Past Scale, and Meaning in Life Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, and Pearson correlation analysis. Results: The mean age of the patients was 35.78±10.50 years. There was a statistically significant difference in acceptance of the past scores according to gender and duration of diagnosis. Age, education level, and the presence of a physical illness were found to influence meaning in life. The mean scores of the Meaning in Life Scale subdimensions were 23.38±6.08 for the presence of meaning and 26.17±7.46 for the search for meaning. The mean scores of the Acceptance of the Past Scale subdimensions were 34.97±13.72 for negative past and 26.77±8.72 for positive past. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the presence of meaning and positive past (r=0.418, p<0.001). A statistically significant positive correlation was also found between the search for meaning and positive past (r=0.322, p<0.001). No significant correlation was found between the presence of meaning and negative past (r=-0.091, p=0.283) or between the search for meaning and negative past (r=0.087, p=0.307). Conclusion: It was determined that psychiatric patients had a moderate level of both acceptance of the past and meaning in life.

Özet

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, psikiyatri hastalarında geçmişi kabul etme ile yaşamın anlamı arasındaki ilişkiyi belirlemektir. Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı-ilişkisel tipteki araştırma, Şubat 2024-Kasım 2024 tarihleri arasında bir psikiyatri hastanesinde tedavi gören 141 hasta ile yürütülmüştür. Kişisel Bilgi Formu, Geçmişi Kabul Etme Ölçeği ve Yaşam Anlamı Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Veriler, tanımlayıcı istatistikler, independent sample t-test ve Pearson Korelasyon analizi kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular: Hastaların yaş ortalaması 35,78±10,50’dir. Cinsiyet ve tanı yılına göre geçmişi kabul etme puanları arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark bulunmuştur. Yaş, eğitim düzeyi ve fiziksel hastalığa sahip olma durumunun yaşamın anlamında etkisinin olduğu görülmüştür. Psikiyatri hastalarının Yaşam Anlamı Ölçeği alt boyutları mevcut anlam ölçek puanı 23,38±6,08, aranan anlam ölçek puanı 26,17±7,46, psikiyatri hastalarının Geçmişi Kabul Etme Ölçeği alt boyutları olumsuz geçmiş 34,97±13,72, olumlu geçmiş 26,77±8,72 olarak belirlenmiştir. Mevcut anlam alt boyutu ile olumlu geçmiş alt boyutu arasında pozitif yönlü anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmuştur (r=0,418, p<0,001). Aranan anlam alt boyutu ile olumlu geçmiş alt boyutu arasında da pozitif yönlü anlamlı bir ilişki saptanmıştır (r=0,322, p<0,001). Mevcut anlam alt boyutu ile olumsuz geçmiş (r=-0,091, p=0,283) ve aranan anlam alt boyutu ile olumsuz geçmiş (r=0,087, p=0,307) arasında ise anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmamıştır. Sonuç: Psikiyatri hastalarının geçmişlerini kabul etmeleri ve yaşamda anlam bulmaları orta düzeyde olduğu belirlenmiştir.

🔖

Cite This Article

Nehir, S., Durgu, N., Türk, M. (2026). The Relationship Between Acceptance of the Past and The Meaning of Life Among Psychiatric Patients. Hemşirelik Bilimi Dergisi, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 2, 207–216. https://doi.org/10.54189/hbd.1746713

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (28)

  1. Akın A, Taş İ. (2015). Yaşam anlamı ölçeği: Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması. Electronic Turkish Studies, 10(3), 27-36.
  2. Alimujiang A, Wiensch A, Boss J, Fleischer NL, Mondul AM, McLean K, et al. (2019). Association between life purpose and mortality among US adults older than 50 years. JAMA Netw Open, 2(5), e194270. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.4270
  3. Boyacıoğlu İ. (2017). Geçmişi kabul etme ölçeği: Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması. Social Sciences Studies Journal, 3(7), 290-99. doi:10.26449/sssJ.35
  4. Charlson FJ, Baxter AJ, Cheng HG, Shidhaye R, Whiteford HA. (2016). The burden of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders in China and India: A systematic analysis of community representative epidemiological studies. Lancet, 23, 388(10042), 376-389. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30590-6
  5. Czekierda K, Banik A, Park CL, Luszczynska A. (2017). Meaning in life and physical health: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Psychology Review, 11(4), 387-418. doi:10.1080/17437199.2017.1327325
  6. de Jong EM, Ziegler N, Schippers MC. (2020). From shattered goals to meaning in life: Life crafting in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 577708. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.577708
  7. Durmuş DC. (2019). Effect of accepting the past on finding a meaning in life among Turkish old age ındividuals; moderating role of perceived social support. (Yayınlanmamış Yüksek Lisans Tezi). Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Ankara.
  8. García-Alandete J. (2015). Does meaning in life predict psychological well-being? The European Journal of Counselling Psychology, 3(2), 89-98. doi:10.5964/ejcop.v3i2.27
  9. García-Alandete J, Marco JH, Pérez RS. (2014). Predicting role of the meaning in life on depression, hopelessness, and suicide risk among borderline personality disorder patients. Universitas Psychologica, 13(4), 1545-55.
  10. Glaw X, Hazelton M, Kable A, Inder K. (2020). Exploring academics beliefs about the meaning of life to inform mental health clinical practice. Arch Psychiatr Nurs, 34(2), 36-42. doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2020.02.009
  11. Glaw X, Kable A, Hazelton M, Inder K. (2017). Meaning in life and meaning of life in mental health care: An integrative literature review. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 38(3), 243-252. doi:10.1080/01612840.2016.1253804
  12. Hallford DJ, Mellor D, Cummins RA, McCabe MP. (2018). Meaning in life in earlier and later older-adulthood: Confirmatory factor analysis and correlates of the meaning in life questionnaire. J Appl Gerontol, 37(10), 1270-1294. doi:10.1177/0733464816658750
  13. Hupkens S, Goumans M, Derkx P, Oldersma A, Schutter T, Machielse A. (2019). Meaning in life of older adults in daily care: A qualitative analysis of participant observations of home nursing visits. J Adv Nurs, 75(8), 1732-1740. doi:10.1111/jan.14027
  14. James JB, Zarrett N. (2006). Ego integrity in the lives of older women. Journal of Adult Development, 13(2), 61-75. doi:10.1007/s10804-006-9003-2
  15. Kleiman EM, Beaver JK. (2013). A meaningful life is worth living: Meaning in life as a suicide resiliency factor. Psychiatry Research, 245, 114-120. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2013.08.002
  16. Kim C, Choi H. (2021). The efficacy of group logotherapy on community‐dwelling older adults with depressive symptoms: A mixed methods study. Perspect Psychiatr Care, 57, 920-928. doi:10.1111/ppc.12635
  17. Martela F, Steger MF. (2016). The three meanings of meaning in life: Distinguishing coherence, purpose, and significance. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 11(5), 531-545. doi:10.1080/17439760.2015.1137623
  18. Matud MP, Bethencourt JM, Ibáñez I. (2015). Gender differences in psychological distress in Spain. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 61(6), 560-568. doi:10.1177/0020764014564801
  19. Park CL, Finkelstein-Fox L, Russell BS, Fendrich M, Hutchison M, Becker J. (2021). Americans’ distress early in the COVID-19 pandemic: Protective resources and coping strategies. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 13(4), 422-431. doi:10.1037/tra0000931
  20. Rylands K, Rickwood D. (2001). Ego-Integrity versus ego-despair: The effect of “accepting the past” on depression in older women. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 53(1), 75-89. doi:10.2190/1LN2-J92C-2168-THPH
  21. Santor DA, Zuroff DC. (1994). Depressive symptoms: Effects of negative affectivity and failing to accept the past. Journal of Personality Assessment, 63(2), 294-312.
  22. Steger MF. (2017). Meaning in life and wellbeing. M. Slade, L. Oades, A. Jarden (Eds.), In Wellbeing, recovery and mental health (p. 75-85). Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781316339275.008
  23. Steger MF, Frazier P, Oishi S, Kaler M. (2006). The meaning in life questionnaire: Assesing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(1), 80-93. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.53.1.80
  24. Steger MF, Oishi S, Kashdan TB. (2009). Meaning in life across the life span: Levels and correlates of meaning in life from emerging adulthood to older adulthood. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4(1), 43-52. doi:10.1080/17439760802303127
  25. Tamres LK, Janicki D, Helgeson VS. (2002). Sex differences in coping behavior: A meta-analytic review and an examination of relative coping. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 6(1), 2-30. doi:10.1207/S15327957PSPR0601_1
  26. van der Spek N, Verdonck-de Leeuw I. (2017). Meaning-centered group psychotherapy for cancer survivors. W. Breitbart (Ed.), In Meaning-centered psychotherapy in the cancer setting: Finding meaning and hope in the face of suffering (p. 67-74). Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/med/9780199837229.003.0005
  27. Vehling S, Kissane DW. (2018). Existential distress in cancer: Alleviating suffering from fundamental loss and change. Psychooncology, 27(11), 2525-2530. doi:10.1002/pon.4872
  28. Zeng YY, Long A, Chiang C, Chiu NM, Sun FK. (2021). Exploring the meaning of life from the perspective of patients with depression: A phenomenological study. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 35(5), 427-433. doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2021.06.004