Exploring the Effects of Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy on Meaning in Life and Internalizing Symptoms in Female Students with Weight and Shape Concerns

Grooten, Yari (2025) Exploring the Effects of Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy on Meaning in Life and Internalizing Symptoms in Female Students with Weight and Shape Concerns. Master thesis, Psychology.

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Abstract

A low sense of meaning in life (MiL) has been observed among individuals with eating disorders (EDs) and has been proposed as a variable associated with the persistence of ED symptoms. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Enhanced (CBT-E) is the current standard for ED treatment but often fails to address deeper existential concerns, theorized to play a role in the persistence of ED symptoms. Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Eating Disorders (MCP-ED) seeks to address these existential concerns. The current study is a randomized controlled trial replicating the effects of MCP-ED, focusing on a sample of first-year female psychology students with high weight and shape concerns. A total of 165 participants were randomly assigned to either six weekly sessions of MCP-ED or a waitlist control group. Meaning in life and internalizing symptoms were assessed using the Multidimensional Existential Meaning Scale (MEMS) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), respectively, at pre- and post-intervention. The MCP-ED group showed significantly greater increases in meaning in life (η² = .168) and significantly reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress compared to controls. Increases in MiL were associated with reductions in depressive symptoms (r = –.41). These findings suggest that interventions targeting existential concerns may enhance psychological outcomes beyond traditional symptom-focused treatments such as CBT-E. Further research in diverse and clinical samples is warranted.

Item Type:	Thesis (Master)
Supervisor name:	Jong, P.J. de and Frey, M.I.
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	Clinical Psychology (CP) [Master Psychology]
Date Deposited:	24 Jul 2025 08:46
Last Modified:	24 Jul 2025 08:46
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/5713

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