The Effect of a Meaning in Life Intervention on Intrusions After an Aversive Film Clip

Schmitt, Lara Olivia (2023) The Effect of a Meaning in Life Intervention on Intrusions After an Aversive Film Clip. Master thesis, Psychology.

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Abstract

In ample cross-sectional research, meaning in life and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were found to be irreversibly related. Only few studies have examined the possible protective effect of meaning in life in an experimental setting. We investigated the effect of a brief meaning in life intervention following an analogue stressor. It was hypothesized that a meaning in life intervention results in less severe intrusions during the laboratory session (N = 103) and the subsequent week (N = 99), compared to control groups. After watching an aversive film clip, participants followed either a meaning in life intervention, with meaning eliciting exercises about one’s life, values and goals, an active control exercise about elephants, or a no-task control. Our results could not identify a significant difference between conditions during the laboratory nor during the subsequent week. This might be attributed to the lack of opportunity to integrate the traumatic event. Nonetheless, this study illustrates that meaning in life might actively be elevated, which is promising for future development of protective interventions. Future research should explore how meaning in life can be tailored specifically to PTSD symptoms, like intrusions. Keywords: meaning in life, meaning in life intervention, intrusions, trauma film paradigm

Item Type:	Thesis (Master)
Supervisor name:	Seidel, L.J.
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	Clinical Psychology (CP) [Master Psychology]
Date Deposited:	13 Jul 2023 08:10
Last Modified:	13 Jul 2023 08:10
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/2342

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