Impact of Moral Elevation on College Students' Sense of Meaning of Life: The Mediating Roles of Gratitude and Perceived Social Support.

Purpose: The current study examined the association between moral elevation and college students' sense of meaning of life, along with the potential mediating effects of gratitude and perceived social support on this relationship. Methods: Using the convenience sampling method, the Moral Elevation Scale, the Sense of Meaning of Life Questionnaire, the Gratitude Questionnaire, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used to conduct questionnaire surveys on 1088 college students (Mage=19.59 years, SD=1.46). SPSS25.0 data statistics software was used to analyze the data, and the PROCESS macro for SPSS was used to conduct the mediation effect test. Results: (1) Moral elevation was significantly and positively associated with college students' sense of meaning of life (ß = 0.43,p < 0.001). (2) Both gratitude and perceived social support partially mediated the relation between moral elevation and sense of meaning of life. The indirect effect of moral elevation on sense of meaning of life via gratitude was 0.11 (95% CI = [0.0709, 0.1453]), and the mediating effect accounted for 52.71%. The indirect effect of moral elevation on sense of meaning of life via perceived social support was 0.06 (95% CI = [0.0385, 0.0863]), and the mediating effect accounted for 29.41%. (3) Gratitude and perceived social support sequentially mediated the association between moral elevation and sense of meaning of life, the indirect effect through gratitude and perceived social support was 0.04 (95% CI = [0.0237, 0.0512]) and accounted for 17.88%. Conclusion: This study revealed the chain mediating roles of gratitude and perceived social support in the relation between moral elevation and sense of meaning of life for Chinese college students, which is of great theoretical and practical significance for the formation of a positive sense of meaning of life and the cultivation of moral elevation among college students.

Life beyond Loss: A Retrospective Analysis of the Impact of Meaning of Life Therapy on the Grieving Process of Cancer Patients' Family Caregivers.

Oncological disease in the palliative stage is a huge challenge for patients and their family caregivers (FCs) due to the fact that it confronts them with death, as well as physical, psychological, and existential suffering. Meaning of Life Therapy (MLT) is a brief structured psycho-existential intervention aiming to help patients in a meaning-making life review process, promoting end-of-life adaptation. The Life Letter (LL) resulting from MLT is an element that facilitates communication between the patient and their caregivers. The goal of this study was to understand the impact of MLT on the grieving processes of eight FCs and to study their perceptions of the role of the LL on grief through semi-structured interviews. The results of our qualitative analysis indicate that MLT was perceived by the FCs as a positive experience despite the conspiracy of silence being identified as a drawback. The LL was interpreted as a communicational element, promoting emotional closeness with the cancer patients and serving as a valuable tool in the FCs' adaptation to loss. Our research findings show that the needs of FCs, especially after experiencing the loss of their relative, are dynamic and specific. This is why it is urgent to develop interventions that consider the idiosyncrasies of end-of-life cancer patients and their FCs in order to avoid frustrated farewells, lonely deaths, and maladaptive grieving processes. This is the direction in which MLT should evolve.

Effects of remote dignity therapy on mental health among patients with hematologic neoplasms and their significant others: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Families of patients with hematologic neoplasms involved in dignity therapy have exhibited a remarkable improvement in psychological well-being and family functioning. However, the applicability and generalizability of family participatory dignity therapy are limited as it is influenced by factors such as intervention time, place, and participants. Whether remote support from significant others is feasible and effective remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to confirm the efficacy of significant others participating in remote dignity therapy (r-DT) on hope, dignity loss, meaning of life, and sense of stigma among patients with hematologic neoplasms as well as their significant others' depression and anxiety. DESIGN: A randomized, single-blinded, two-arm, parallel-group controlled trial. SETTING(S) AND PARTICIPANTS: Participants included patients with hematologic neoplasms and their significant others, who were recruited from Fujian Medical University Union Hospital from May 2021 to January 2022. METHODS: A total of 72 eligible participants (patients and significant others) agreed to participate, and were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 35) or a control group (n = 37). Each pair of participants in the intervention group participated in two or three conversations based on the online video function of the WeChat platform, performed by one therapist in accordance with a specific communication outline. To evaluate the effects of the intervention, we assessed the patients' degree of dignity loss, hope level, meaning of life, and sense of stigma, as well as their significant others' depression, anxiety, and intimacy at baseline (T0), 15 days (T1), 30 days (T2), and 60 days (T3), and compared the scores between the two groups after the completion of the intervention. The Generalized Estimation Equation Model (GEE) was used to examine the effects of time, group, and their interaction. RESULTS: The intervention group statistically significantly differed in lower dignity loss (t = 2.190, p = 0.032), higher hope level (t = -2.010, p = 0.049), and higher meaning of life (t = -2.066, p = 0.043) than the control group at T1. Regarding their significant others, the results of the comparison between the two groups showed that significant others in the intervention group had reduced levels of anxiety and depression at T1 and T2 (p < 0.05). The majority of patients (84.38 %) and significant others (75.00 %) provided positive evaluations of the program. CONCLUSIONS: The r-DT showed a short-term positive effect on decreasing patients' dignity loss and promoting patients' hope and meaning of life; among their significant others, it decreased anxiety and depression. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered in the China Clinical Trial Registry on 17 March 2021(ChiCTR2100044374). TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Remote dignity therapy decreased patients' dignity loss and promoted their hope and meaning of life; among their significant others, it decreased anxiety and depression.

[Spiritual interventions in multimodal pain management]. / Spirituelle Interventionen in der multimodalen Schmerztherapie.

If we understand chronic pain not only as a disease but also as an existential crisis, it seems logical and reasonable to consider spiritual aspects in the treatment process. Spirituality is understood as an umbrella term for all activities and experiences that give meaning and significance to people's lives-irrespective of their religious affiliation. So far, spiritual aspects have been considered therapeutically mainly in the palliative context. According to current survey-based studies of pain patients, the inclusion of spiritual themes in therapy leads to an improvement in quality of life and pain tolerance and is moreover explicitly desired by those patients. A consistent expansion of multimodal treatment approaches in the sense of a biopsychosocial-spiritual concept has not yet been implemented. The following basic attitudes and behaviors are relevant for practical implementation: openness to spiritual themes and authenticity, taking a spiritual history, listening, standing firm, activation of values, use of motives from religion, mythology, and art. Professional competence generally involves all practitioners, but may also require qualified professionals for specialized assistance. The integration of authentic spiritual assistance into multimodal pain management should help to stabilize self-esteem and the experience of identity of the patients through resource activation and identification of burdensome spiritual beliefs. The detailed integration and investigation of the efficiency of spiritual interventions in multimodal pain therapy require further research.

Exploring the experience of meaning-centered group psychotherapy among Chinese cancer patients during active treatment: a descriptive qualitative study.

Objective: Meaninglessness poses a significant psychological challenge for cancer patients, negatively affecting their quality of life and increasing the risk of suicide. Meaning-Centered Group Therapy (MCGP) is an intervention designed specifically to enhance the meaning of life of cancer patients. Extensive research has documented its effectiveness across various cultures and populations. However, limited research has been conducted on the subjective experiences and perspectives of participants engaged in MCGP. Thus, the purpose of this study was to employ a qualitative design to explore the experiences and viewpoints of Chinese cancer patients who have undergone MCGP. Methods: Within a two-week timeframe following the conclusion of MCGP, semi-structured interviews were administered to twenty-one participants who had engaged in the therapy. The interview data were transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis. Results: Four main themes were identified: (a) Self-perceived personal change, (b) Overall experience of group therapy, (c) Barriers to participation of MCGP, and (d) Suggestions for future interventions. Conclusion: Despite the barriers to participation in the MCGP process, the overall experience for Chinese cancer patients undergoing active treatment is valuable and positive, providing multiple benefits. Future studies could explore the adaptation of MCGP to a broader range of cancer populations and diverse study populations.

Meaning of Life Therapy: A Pilot Study of a Novel Psycho-Existential Intervention for Palliative Care in Cancer.

Intervention in Palliative Care aims to provide physical, psychosocial, and spiritual relief for patients and family members. Brief interventions with a psycho-existential approach have shown positive responses; however, cultural adaptations are needed. This pilot study aimed to develop the Meaning of Life Therapy (MLT), a novel psycho-existential intervention, rooted in the Dignity Therapy, Life Review, and Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy. MLT was culturally adapted to the Portuguese context to include questions about forgiveness, apology, reconciliation, farewell, and a legacy document, i.e., the Life Letter. Nine PC cancer patients answered a 14-question MLT protocol, intended to help patients find purpose and meaning in life. Eight themes emerged: Family, Preservation of Identity, Life Retrospective, Clinical Situation, Achievements, Socio-Professional Valorization, Forgiveness/Apology/Reconciliation, and Saying Goodbye. MLT has proved its ability to respond to the psycho-existential needs of PC patients. Further studies should be conducted to gain extensive knowledge of the effectiveness of culturally responsive interventions.

Surgeon's narcissism, hostility, stress, bullying, meaning in life and work environment: a two-centered analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Disruptive physician behaviour can affect patients' safety. If surgical trainees throughout higher education experience disruptive behaviour, impaired work-life may follow. Therefore, we aimed to study surgeons' level of narcissism (N), hostility, and stress in relation to their work environment and potential experience of bullying. We also scrutinized search for or presence of meaning in life. METHODS: General surgeons in UK National Health Service from 2 hospitals participated with 3 levels of training: junior trainees (JT), senior trainees (ST), and consultants (CONS). Participants completed 52 VAS-formed questions plus demographics. Modified questionnaires were used for assessments of 'hostility', 'narcissism', meaning in life, quality of work-life, and bullying. RESULTS: Altogether 33% of surgeons displayed narcissism and 22% could exhibit disruptive behaviour. MANOVA significant differences between low, medium, and high narcissism groups were revealed in hostility (p<.01), perceived stress (p=.001), and presence of meaning in life (p<.05). Regression analyses explained hostility both by N-scale (p=.000) and 'being bullied during training'(p=.009) but negatively by 'presence of meaning in life'(p=.004). Surgeons' perceived stress was explained both by N-scale (p=.000) followed by 'seeing others bullied during training (p=.000) and negatively by 'working extra days beyond schedule' (p=.007). The presence of meaning in life was explained mostly by good beneficial stress (p= .000) but negatively both by 'doing extra work beyond schedule' (p= .016) and hostility (p= .003). CONCLUSION: Surgeons may exhibit disruptive behaviour in a challenging situation. The narcissim-scale was the best predictor of hostility and perceived stress. Being bullied during surgical training predicted hostility. Seeing others being bullied during surgical training predicted stress. Beneficial stress is explained best by surgeons' experience of the presence of meaning in life.

Filling gaps in experiences religious understanding of people living with cancer in palliative care: a phenomenological qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: According to a phenomenology of contemporary religion, the analysis of religious experiences finds that they are part of an individual's search for something powerful that overcomes him seeking not only a need, but the meaning of all existence. The present study aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the religious experiences of people living with cancer in palliative care (PC) and fill gaps in access to experience, with regard to how it was properly lived. METHODS: A qualitative, phenomenological, cross-sectional study was conducted with 14 people living with cancer undergoing PC at two outpatient clinics of a public hospital. The experiences were accessed through in-depth interviews and the results were analysed according to the principles of classical phenomenology. RESULTS: The patients confidently surrendered to the divine, attributing to it the power of continuity of life or not, which sustained them and launched them into horizons of hope, directing them to possibilities of achieving meaning in life, which it fed back their faith and to continue living, opening them up to an intense perception of the value of life. CONCLUSIONS: The religious positions of confident surrender to the divine, to his will and a belief in his intervention, regardless of the outcome, opened possibilities to patients for the belief in the continuity of life by the power of faith. This position allowed the patients in this study to visualize achievements in the present and in the future, opening a horizon of hope, meaning and value of living. This study showed how this elements are presented and sustained, providing subsidies to health professionals seeking to provide more holistic care.

The relationship between psychological distress, meaning in life,and life satisfaction in the COVID-19 pandemic / La relación entre la molestia psicológica, el sentido de la vida y la satisfacción con la vida en la pandemia del COVID-19

Durante la pandemia de COVID-19, el miedo a infectarse, perder a familiares y las medidas tomadas para prevenir la contaminación (por ejemplo, cierres, cuarentenas, distanciamiento espacial, etc.) han aumentado el riesgo de depresión, ansiedad y estrés. En el presente estudio, se exploró la relación entre la angustia psicológica, el significado de la vida y la satisfacción con la vida entre personas infectadas y no infectadas con COVID-19 durante la pandemia. El presente estudio es el primero en examinar estas variables simultáneamente. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 687 adultos mayores de 18 años (media = 30,51 años). Los resultados indicaron que las personas adultas con una alta satisfacción con la vida tenían niveles más bajos de angustia psicológica, encontraban la vida más significativa y buscaban menos el significado. El malestar psicológico se relacionó positivamente con la búsqueda de sentido en la vida y negativamente con la existencia de sentido en la vida. Además, la depresión y la existencia de sentido en la vida fueron predictores significativos de la satisfacción con la vida.(AU)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the fear of being infected, losing relatives, and measures taken to prevent contamination (e.g., lock-downs, quarantining, spatial distancing, etc.) have all increased the risk of depression, anxiety and stress. In the present study, the relationship be-tween psychological distress, meaning in life, and life satisfaction was ex-plored among individuals who were infected and not infected with COVID-19 during the pandemic. The present study is the first to examine these variables simultaneously. The sample comprised 687 adult individuals over the age of 18 years (mean=30.51 years). Results indicated that adult individuals with high life satisfaction had lower levels of psychological dis-tress, find life more meaningful, and seek meaning less. Psychological dis-tress was positively related with the search for meaning in life and nega-tively related with the existence of meaning in life. Moreover, depressive symptoms and the existence of meaning in life were significant predictors of life satisfaction.(AU)

The Meaning of Life and Religious Coping in the Fight Against Cancer: A Study with Oncology Patients in Brazil in Light of Viktor Frankl's Theory.

This study aimed to describe the perception of the meaning of life and coping strategies of 19 patients with cancer at a public hospital in Brazil. This is descriptive and qualitative research that used Amedeo Giorgi's phenomenological model, and the interpretation was performed in light of Viktor Frankl's theory. Two themes have emerged: (1) the perception of the meaning of life in the experience with cancer and (2) religious coping to fight the disease. This study showed that revealing the meaning of life in the cancer experience contributes to better treatment compliance, a more favorable view of the future and better quality of life. On the other hand, religious coping is the strategy most used by patients who believe in God, showing a greater state of psychological and spiritual well-being.

The mediating effects of attitude toward death and meaning of life on the relationship between perception of death and coping with death competence among Chinese nurses: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: It is important to understand how the perception of death affects the competence to cope with death. OBJECTIVES: To explore whether the perception of death has an indirect effect on competence to cope with death through the mediation of attitude toward death and meaning of life. METHODS: A total of 786 nurses from Hunan Province, China, selected by random sampling method and asked to complete an online electronic questionnaire between October and November 2021 were included in the study. RESULTS: The nurses' scored 125.39 ± 23.88 on the competence to cope with death. There was a positive correlation among perception of death, competence to cope with death, the meaning of life, and attitude toward death. There were three mediating pathways: the separate mediating effect of natural acceptance and meaning of life, and the chain mediating effect of natural acceptance and meaning of life. CONCLUSION: The nurses' competence to cope with death was moderate. Perception of death could indirectly and positively predict nurses' competence to cope with death by enhancing natural acceptance or sense of meaning in life. In addition, perception of death could improve natural acceptance and then enhance the sense of meaning in life to positively predict nurses' competence to cope with death.

Solace for the Cankered Soul.

The scourge of cancer mortally wounds the soul. From the time of diagnosis, the spiritual shock should be recognized, acknowledged, and addressed in concert with the personalized management strategy for the tumor. Optimal cancer care treats both body and soul. Psycho-oncology theory defines existential issues and spirituality in conceptually ambiguous terms but, in reality, such afflictions of the spirit cause great suffering in cancer patients. Patients often seek reassurance that their life has purpose and meaning, and the provision of emotional and soulful support from their oncologist is of inestimable importance to spiritual well-being. In addition to the time and resource constraints of daily clinical practice, recent challenges to the personal doctor-patient relationship include e-medicine and virtual clinical encounters, and the potential disruption to be wrought by new generation artificial intelligence. These obstacles are addressed with a view to the physician being able to continue to provide empathic compassionate care. The art of Kintsugi is invoked to offer a metaphor for restoration of the soul afflicted by cancer.

Letting go or giving up? The influence of self-transcendence meaning of life on goal adjustment in high action crisis.

When individuals pursuing personal goals encounter setbacks and failures, they often fall into a conflict between disengaging from and striving toward the goal, defined as an action crisis. The present study investigated the influence and mechanism of self-transcendence meaning of life (STML) on goal disengagement and reengagement during a high versus a low action crisis. Study 1 included situations with different action crises. In Study 1, participants with high STML exhibited significantly higher goal disengagement and reengagement during high action crisis compared with low action crisis. Study 2 replicated the findings in Study 1 using participants' personal goals by questionnaires, and further exhibited that action crisis had negative effect on self-efficacy for participants with low STML, and this process subsequently reduced goal adjustment. Interestingly, no mediation effect of self-efficacy was found between action crisis and goal adjustment among participants with high STML. Findings from the present study suggest that releasing obsessions and adopting a dialectical relationship between success and failure may help individuals in high action-crisis situations, and self-efficacy may provide flexibility and autonomy.

The relationship between meaning of life, perceived social support, spiritual well-being and pain catastrophizing with quality of life in migraine patients: the mediating role of pain self-efficacy.

BACKGROUND: Migraine is a neurological disease that has several physical and psychological complications, which is characterized by disability and impaired quality of life. AIMS: The aim of this study was to explore the mediating role of pain self-efficacy in the relationship between meaning of life, perceived social support, spiritual well-being and pain catastrophizing with quality of life in migraine sufferers. The relationship between these factors with quality of life (QOL) was not fully explored in migraine patients. METHOD: This study was a correlational study of structural equations. Therefore, 300 patients with migraine who referred to one of the specialized neurological treatment centers in Zanjan in 2021 were recruited based on the inclusion criteria. Patients also completed the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF), Meaning in Life Questionnaire, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Spiritual Well-Being Scale, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. Finally, the hypotheses were then analyzed with correlation coefficient and path analysis method by using SPSS-26 and LISREL-10.2 programs. RESULTS: The results of the present study showed that pain self-efficacy has a mediating role in the relationship between meaning of life and quality of life (B = 0.015), perceived social support with quality of life (B = 0.022), spiritual well-being with quality of life (B = 0.021), as well as pain catastrophizing with quality of life (B = - 0.015). CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, by considering the role of self-efficacy of pain, it is possible to develop the programs to strengthen and improve the meaning of life, perceived social support, spiritual well-being and also reduce pain catastrophizing, in order to improve the quality of life of patients with migraine.

The Effect of Work Stress on the Well-Being of Primary and Secondary School Teachers in China.

Primary and secondary school teachers face increasing work stress, and more attention needs to be paid to their well-being. The present study was conducted to analyze the influence of work stress on the well-being of such teachers in China, and to explore the effects of family-work conflict and a self-transcendent meaning of life. A total of 562 primary and secondary school teachers completed questionnaires assessing work stress, family-work conflict, and a self-transcendent meaning of life (including grasping the meaning of failure and detachment from success or failure) as potential predictors of well-being. Work stress negatively predicted teachers' well-being; family-work conflict mediated this relationship and a self-transcendent meaning of life moderated it. The results of this study can be used as a reference for education departments seeking to intervene to prevent teachers from developing well-being problems from the perspective of a self-transcendent meaning of life.

A photovoice study on the meaning of life in widows.

This study aimed to picture the experience of the meaning of life in widows by using a photovoice approach with thematic analysis. The participants involved were 10 widows living in West Timor, Indonesia. The results of the thematic analysis show that the meaning of life in widows relates to the following three themes: the spiritual meaning of life, risks of abuses and harassment, and supporting systems for widows. The photovoice approach managed to spark social change and improve community awareness on issues threatening widows' well-being.

Is There a Connection Between Spiritual Transcendence and Quality of Life? A Cross-Sectional Survey Study in Patients Under the End-of-Life Care.

Background: There is limited data available on the spiritual dimension of palliative care in Eastern Europe. In countries such as Poland, investigating spirituality and its essential aspects is further complicated because in a predominantly Catholic country, spirituality is mistakenly thought to be identical to religiousness. Aim: This study investigated the connection between spiritual transcendence, meaning in life, altruism, and the quality of life of cancer patients in end-of-life care in an Eastern Europe Country (Poland). Design: This cross-sectional study was based on 4 surveys. The Quality of Life Questionnaire MQOL-R, the Scale of Spiritual Transcendence, the Purpose in Life Questionnaire PIL-6, and the Altruism Scale were used. Setting/Participants: Data from 41 oncology patients receiving end-of-life care at home and in a stationary hospice was obtained. Results: Results indicate that there is a significant positive correlation between transcendence, spiritual growth, and global quality of life. There is also a positive correlation between altruism and the meaning of life, as well as between the meaning of life, spirituality and quality of life, while altruism is positively associated exclusively with spirituality. Conclusion: This study revealed that spiritual transcendence can be understood, according to Piedmont's theory, as a personality trait that allows the patients to cross the boundaries of their existence and identify subjectively important values in their life. It can be examined and developed not only in the context of the need but also as a predisposition and a resource of personhood.

Perceptions of the meaning of life among Korean patients with advanced cancer: A mixed-methods study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore perceptions of the meaning of life among Korean patients living with advanced cancer. METHOD: The study employed a mixed-methods design, and 16 participants were included in the analysis. Qualitative data gathered from in-depth interviews were analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological method. Quantitative survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman's ρ correlation. RESULTS: Participants experienced both the existence of meaning and the will to find meaning in terms of four categories: "interpersonal relationships based on attachment and cohesion" (three themes - family as the core meaning of one's life, supportive and dependent interconnectedness with significant others, and existential responsibility embedded in familism), "therapeutic relationships based on trust" (one theme - communication and trust between the patient and medical staff), "optimism" (two themes - positivity embodied through past experiences and a positive attitude toward the current situation), and "a sense of purpose with advanced cancer" (two themes - the will to survive and expectations for the near future). The meaning in life questionnaire (MLQ) and the purpose in life scale (PIL) showed a significant positive correlation tendency with the functional assessment of chronic illness therapy-spiritual well-being scale (FACIT-Sp). The patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) showed significant negative correlation tendency with both the MLQ-presence of meaning (MLQ-PM) and PIL-Initiative (PIL-I) questionnaires. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Finding meaning in life helps advanced cancer patients realize their will to live. It also acts as a coping mechanism that palliates negative experiences in the fight against the disease. In particular, among advanced cancer patients in the Korean culture, the dynamics of relationships with family and medical staff was a key axis that instilled optimism and will to live. These results suggest that considering the meaning of life in advanced cancer patients by reflecting Korean culture in the treatment process improves the quality of care.

Meaning in life, goals, and adherence to antiretroviral treatment in people living with HIV.

Patients living with HIV who do not adhere to antiretroviral treatment (ART) have a high viral load, increasing the risk of developing AIDS, as well as new treatment-resistant strains. There are several psychological factors that must be studied to understand the reasons for non-adherence to ART. We studied whether the goals reported by patients with HIV, as well as their sense of meaning in life, influence ART adherence in a sample of adult patients attending HIV outpatient care in Mexico. Participants completed the Antiretroviral Treatment Adherence Assessment Questionnaire, the Dimensional Scale of Meaning in Life and were asked to write both short-term and long-term goals. The most frequent goals reported were those categorized as "personal development," followed by "being healthy." Participants with the highest adherence had more short-term "personal development" goals. Moreover, they showed the lowest levels of existential vacuum (lack of meaning in life). These variables predicted treatment adherence. We conclude that the design of programs to improve ART adherence should promote the establishment of personal development goals and offer tools that allow having a sense of meaning in life to reduce AIDS-related complications.

Self-Compassion and Authentic-Durable Happiness During COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediating Role of Meaning of Life and the Moderating Role of COVID-19 Burnout.

Backgrounds and Aims: Self-compassion is important for authentic-durable happiness, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. To better understand the potential complexity of effects, this study sought to explore (a) the mediating role of meaning of life in the association between self-compassion and authentic-durable happiness and (b) the moderating role of COVID-19 burnout in the relationship between self-compassion and meaning of life. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey study in China from February 1 to 14, 2021. Online survey questionnaire technique and convenience sampling method were used for data collection. Participants anonymously completed the measures of self-compassion scale short form, COVID-19 burnout scale, meaning in life questionnaire, and subjective authentic-durable happiness scale. The data were examined utilizing Pearson's r correlations and moderated mediation analysis. Results: This study included 1165 Chinese college students (Mage = 19.68 years, SD = 1.37). Self-compassion (M = 3.39, SD = 0.49) was significantly positively associated with authentic-durable happiness (M = 3.82, SD = 0.66) (r = 0.45, p < 0.001), and mediation analyses indicated that meaning of life (M = 4.65, SD = 0.86) partially mediated this association (indirect effect = 0.103, SE = 0.016, 95% CI = [0.073, 0.135]). Moderated mediation analysis further revealed that COVID-19 burnout (M = 1.87, SD = 0.72) buffered the relation between self-compassion and meaning of life (ß = -0.05, p < 0.033). Discussion and Conclusion: Findings of this study shed light on a correlation between self-compassion and authentic-durable happiness. In addition, this study underlines the importance of intervening in COVID-19 burnout among college students and enhancing the meaning of life in order to promote and safeguard authentic-durable happiness in the setting of COVID-19.