Meaning in Life and the Acceptance of Cancer: A Systematic Review

Rossella Mattea Quinto, Francesco De Vincenzo, Laura Campitiello, Marco Innamorati, Ekin Secinti and Luca Iani
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Rossella Mattea Quinto: Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, 00163 Rome, Italy
Francesco De Vincenzo: Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, 00163 Rome, Italy
Laura Campitiello: Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, 00163 Rome, Italy
Marco Innamorati: Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, 00163 Rome, Italy
Ekin Secinti: Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
Luca Iani: Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, 00163 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-11

Abstract: Meaning in life and acceptance of cancer are critical for patients to adjust to a cancer diagnosis and to improve psychological wellbeing. Little is known about the relationship between meaning in life and the acceptance of cancer. This study provides a systematic review of the associations between meaning in life and the acceptance of cancer in cancer patients. CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and SCOPUS databases were searched until 15 March 2021. Studies were included if they quantitatively examined the association between meaning in life and the acceptance of cancer in adult cancer patients/survivors and if they were published in peer-reviewed journals or in books. The study quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Of the 4907 records identified through database searches, only 3 studies quantitatively examined the associations between meaning in life and the acceptance of cancer. The total sample involved 464 women with cancer. All three studies reported positive correlations between meaning in life and the acceptance of cancer (ranging from r = 0.19 to r = 0.38), whereas meaning in life did not predict the acceptance of cancer. Overall, the meaning in life–acceptance relationship has not been sufficiently investigated, though it has relevant theoretical and clinical implications for coping with cancer. High-quality studies are needed to better understand the relationship between meaning in life and the acceptance of cancer.

Keywords: acceptance; cancer; coping; meaning in life; oncology; sense of coherence; PRISMA; systematic review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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