At present, there is no empirical data that specifies the likely prevalence of purpose in life disruption among various clinical populations. Between one-third and one-half of cancer survivors report some degree of existential distress during or after their treatment, but these findings are not specific to the domain of purpose in life. To address the aforementioned gap, we propose to conduct a survey study to determine the prevalence of purpose disruption in two clinical populations and determine if the prevalence of purpose disruption in these populations is different from that of a normative population.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
300
Completion of a Purpose in Life Survey
Abbott Northwestern Hospital
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Purpose Status Question
A single forced-choice self-report screener question that we developed in order to characterize existential distress related to purpose in life (PSQ: "Related to living with purpose in life, right now I am: moving backwards; stalled; figuring it out; moving forward on a path").
Time frame: Through Study Completion, about 15 minutes
Work and Adjustment Scale
A 5-item self-report questionnaire to characterize functioning related to work, social life, leisure, home management, and relationships.
Time frame: Through Study Completion, about 15 minutes
Meaning in Life Questionnaire
A 10-item questionnaire designed to measure 2 dimensions of meaning in life: Presence of Meaning (how much respondents feel their lives have meaning) and Search for Meaning (how much respondents strive to find meaning and understanding in their lives).
Time frame: Through Study Completion, about 15 minutes
Life Engagement Test
A 6-item self-report questionnaire that captures the extent to which a person engages in activities that are personally valued.
Time frame: Through Study Completion, about 15 minutes
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.