Meaning-based intervention programs applied to people diagnosed with cancer: A systematic review

In recent years, various meaning-based intervention programs aiming not only to reduce the negative psychological symptoms experienced by people diagnosed with cancer but also to enrich their lives by connecting with their sources of meaning and values in life, have been devel-oped. The aim of the present study was to systematically examine the characteristics and outcomes of interventions that focus directly on developing a sense of meaning and purpose in life in people diagnosed with cancer. In this context, a systematic literature review was conducted using six electronic databases, namely PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL Complete, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. As a result of the literature search conducted between 2000 and 2022, 20 studies including 14 different intervention programs focusing on meaning-making and meaning in life for people diagnosed with cancer were identified. The sample of the studies in the review consisted mostly of women, middle-aged and older people diagnosed with advanced can-cer. Breast and lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in the articles in this review. The majority of the studies in the review were theoretically influenced by Viktor Frankl's studies and adopted the existential approach in psychotherapy. When the effects of meaning-based interventions were evaluated, it was found that they are highly effective in improving the sense of meaning, quality of life, and spiritual well-being. It was also thought to have relatively positive effects on anxiety, depression, emotional distress, optimism, and hopelessness levels. Because of these effects, it could be said that meaning-focused interventions are a promising approach both in answering the questions of people diagnosed with cancer about meaning and existence and in reducing their emotional distress. On the other hand, new studies using a more rigorous research methodology are needed to make more comprehensive conclusions about meaning-focused interventions.