Exploring Existential Questions – A Qualitative Analysis of Psychological Literature (2000-2023)
The systematic review and meta-analysis presented in this study aim to provide an overview of the literature on the meaning of life and existential vacuum within the contemporary field of psychology, investigating the approaches and methodologies employed in this area from 2000 to 2023. The review encompassed five databases, including CAPES portal, APA PsycArticles, SCOPUS, SCIELO, and PEPSIC, utilizing combinations of descriptors such as “existential vacuum” and “meaning of life,” along with related terms, in conjunction with “mental health” and “clinical psychology,” both in English and their respective Portuguese counterparts. The inclusion criteria involved selecting articles that centered on the themes of existential vacuum or meaning of life as the primary focus, published between 2000 and 2023, and written in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. A total of 671 articles were initially identified, with 264 meeting the inclusion criteria and subsequently subjected to meta- analysis. These articles were categorized into various approaches: 191 employed quantitative methods, 46 were theoretical/ qualitative, 17 were empirical/qualitative, 7 used mixed methods, and 3 focused on interventions.
