Existential concerns, including fears of death, isolation, identity, and meaning, become salient in late life and affect mental health. This study compared three competing models for the Existential Concerns Questionnaire (ECQ), a 22–item scale assessing existential distress: a unidimensional model, a three correlated factors model (General Existential Anxiety, Death Anxiety, and Avoidance), and a second–order model. Participants were 315 Spanish older adults (134 men, 42.54

Religious orientations, such as intrinsic (IRO), extrinsic (ERO), and quest (QRO), may influence individuals' sense of meaning in life and life satisfaction. This study examined these relationships among 392 Spanish Catholic undergraduates using the Religious Orientation Scale, Purpose in Life-10 Items, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Correlational analyses showed that IRO was positively related to both meaning in life and life satisfaction, while ERO showed no significant relationships, and QRO was linked to life satisfaction but not meaning in life. Mediation analysis using bootstrapping indicated that meaning in life significantly mediated the relationship between IRO and life satisfaction. These findings suggest that intrinsic religiosity enhances life satisfaction by fostering a sense of meaning, highlighting the importance of cultural context in understanding the pathways from religiosity to well-being.

This study analyzed the psychometric properties of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), one of the most important scales used to assess Meaning in Life (MiL), in a sample of Spanish people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Participants were 102 Spanish people (72.55% women) from 18 years to 68 years old ( M = 37.69; SD = 12.66) diagnosed with BPD, who completed the MLQ, Purpose in Life Test-10 Items (PIL-10), and Dissociative Experiences Scale II (DES-II). The bidimensional model for the MLQ showed adequate internal consistency and an excellent fit. The MLQ-P and MLQ-S scales correlated positively. The MLQ-P scale showed a positive correlation with the PIL-10 and a negative correlation with the DES-II. Introducing MiL into interventions with BPD patients can be a useful way to help them to find purpose in their lives, alleviate their existential suffering, and cope with the clinical symptomatology of BPD.

This study analyzed the psychometric properties of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) in a sample of people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Participants were 102 residents in Spain (74 women, 72.55 %; 26 men, 25.49 %; and 2 missing data, 1.96 %) age-ranged from 18 years to 68 years old (M = 37.69; SD = 12.66) diagnosed with BPD, who completed the MLQ, Purpose in Life Test-10 Items (PIL-10), and Dissociative Experiences Scale II (DES-II). The bidimensional model for the MLQ (Presence of Meaning: MLQ-P, and Search for Meaning: MLQ-S) showed an adequate internal consistency and an excellent fit. The MLQ-P and MLQ-S subcales correlated positively. The MLQ-P scale showed a positive correlation with the PIL-10 and a negative correlation with the DES-II. Introducing meaning in life into interventions with BPD patients can be a useful way to help them to find purpose in their lives, alleviate their existential suffering, and cope with the clinical symptomatology of BPD.

For the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, animal magnetism is a natural evidence of his metaphysics of the will. In turn, his metaphysics of the will reveals the true nature of animal magnetism. Therefore, animal magnetism can be approached from both natural and metaphysical points of view. From a metaphysical point of view, animal magnetism is an objectification of the will, while as a natural phenomenon it implies the laws of the physiology of the nervous system. According to Schopenhauer, the will acts directly on phenomena, given how it is not separated from the laws of the phenomenal reality it has created. The objective of the present work is to expose that, in order to produce the phenomenon of animal magnetism, the activity of the nervous system is as necessary as the action of the will.

Suicide profoundly impacts not only individuals but also their relatives, who often experience high levels of burden, distress, and isolation. Yet the interplay between risk and protective factors in this population remains understudied. This study explored the network structure of caregivers’ emotional states, focusing on meaning in life, perceived burden, family empowerment, emotion dysregulation, anxiety, stress, depressive symptoms, and quality of life. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 185 Spanish relatives (139 women, 75.1

Near-death experiences (NDEs) are events reported by individuals close to death. This review examines the aftereffects of NDEs based on scientific literature from 2014 to 2024. Positive NDEs often lead to increased spirituality, reduced fear of death, a deeper appreciation of life, and greater compassion. In contrast, negative NDEs, though less common, can cause confusion, emotional distress, and lasting trauma. The subjective interpretation by those who experience an NDE strongly shapes its impact, influencing both personal growth and challenges in social or emotional integration. Health professionals should be trained to support individuals who have had NDEs, recognizing the psychological significance and potential integration difficulties. Additionally, those who have not personally experienced an NDE but are exposed to such testimonies may also gain emotional and spiritual insights. In summary, NDEs are impactful psychological events that warrant informed clinical attention and support to aid individuals in processing and integrating these profound experiences.

Women diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) and gynecological cancer (GC) face psychological and existential challenges common to all cancers, such as anxiety and depression, along with specific issues related to body image and sexuality. Logotherapy and meaning-centered therapy (MCT) have shown positive effects on the psychological well-being of cancer patients. A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines to assess the impact of logotherapy and meaning-centered therapy (MCT) on women diagnosed with BC and GC from January 2014 to December 2024. Empirical research articles published in English were included, while literature reviews, meta-analyses, doctoral theses, preprints, books, and studies involving other cancer types or metastatic/comorbid conditions were excluded. The search was conducted across Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases using terms like uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, mastectomy, logotherapy, and MCT. The Boolean operators AND and OR were used in the Title and Abstract search fields across all three databases, as well as in the Topic search field for the WoS database. Out of the 36 articles initially obtained, 29 remained after eliminating duplicates and, finally, six papers were selected. The included studies examined various psychological and existential issues in patients with breast and gynecological cancer, including anxiety, distress, depression, hopelessness, death anxiety, post-traumatic stress, perception of physical symptoms, quality of life, post-traumatic growth, spiritual well-being, and meaning in life. Findings suggest that logotherapy decreases depressive symptoms, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, whereas improves meaning in life, quality of life, physical symptom perception, and post-traumatic growth in women with BC and GC. Implementing logotherapy in cancer care units through a multidisciplinary approach could be valuable, considering biopsychosocial factors, and incorporating aspects of self-image and sexuality in treatment would also be beneficial.

The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire-Short Form (OHQ-SF) is an 8-item scale that assesses happiness, and it has been adapted for use with Spanish individuals. However, no study has examined its structural validity and gender invariance in young adults. To check this, the psychometric properties of the OHQ-SF were analyzed in a sample of 625 Spanish undergraduates (175 men, 28%, and 450 women, 72%), with an age range between 18 and 29 years (M = 20.80, SD = 2.40). Spanish adaptations of the OHQ-SF, Purpose In Life Test-10 Items (PIL-10), Satisfaction With Life Scales (SWLS), and Seeking of Noetic Goals (SONG) were used. The OHQ-SF showed an internal consistency of .66, a composite reliability of .68, an average inter-item correlation of .21, and total-item correlations ranging from .27 to .52 (M = .36). Confirmatory procedures revealed an excellent fit for the OHQ-SF (SB chi 2(20) = 22.387, p = .320, CFI = .996, TLI = .995, RMSEA = .014), and configural, metric, scalar, and strict invariance across gender groups. The difference between the women's mean (36.40, SD = 5.3) and the men's mean (36.27, SD = 5.09) in the OHQ-SF was not significant (t(623) =-.285, p = .776). Correlations between the OHQ-SF, the PIL-10, the SWLS, and the SONG-8 were strong and significant (rho = .61, p < .001; rho = .64, p < .001; and rho =-.38, p < .001 respectively). These results confirm that the Spanish version of the OHQ-SF, used with Spanish undergraduates in the present study, is a reliable and valid scale.

Self-transcendence can be defined as what goes beyond one's limitations and difficulties in life in order to serve or connect with something greater. Self-transcendence is related to both mental and physical health in older people, so it is important to have instruments to measure it properly. This study analyzes the psychometric properties of Wong's Self-Transcendence Measure-Brief (STM-B) in 333 Spanish older people (142 men and 191 women age-ranged from 65 to 93 years, M = 70.53, SD = 4.60). The STM-B, Meaning in Life Questionnaire, Brief Resilient Coping Scale, Satisfaction With Life Scale, Scales of Psychological Well-Being-Stress Subscale, and Geriatric Depression Scale-15 Items were used. The STM-B showed (1) an acceptable internal consistency, (3) an adequate model-data fit, (4) metric, scalar, strict, and structural invariance across gender groups, (5) not significant gender-related differences in self-transcendence, (6) positive, significant correlationships with presence of/search for meaning, resilient coping, and satisfaction with life, while negative, not significant correlationships with both stress and depression, and (7) not significant differences related to marital status, academic level, and income. The STM-B is a reliable and valid scale for assessing self-transcendence in older people.

Background: Resilience research requires evidence to distinguish common and differential traits that allow the infant to face a situation of crisis and/or adversity. The aim of the study is to identify the latent profiles of resilience as a function of self-efficacy, subjective well-being (life satisfaction and positive-negative affect), daily stressors and depression in schoolchildren during the Covid-19 confinement. Method: A total of 869 students of both sexes, boys (449) and girls (420) aged 10 to 13 years (M = 11.10, SD = 0.76) enrolled in different public basic education institutions, participated. The scales were applied for each of the variables of interest. A latent profile analysis (LPA) was used. Results: 5 distinct groups were identified: 1) moderate resilience, 2) vulnerable, 3) functional, 4) resilient and 5) well-adjusted. Conclusions: These profiles are useful for providing evidence regarding the different expressions of child resilience

Magda Arnold (1903-2002) is well known for her research on emotions, motivation, and memory from a neurological, physiological, and psychological point of view. However, her works in the field of the anthropological foundations of personality are less known and discussed. The present study presents some aspects of Arnold's conception of a human's nature as being based or convergent on Aquinas's doctrine: (a) a nonreductionist conception of the human being, (b) the psychophysical unity of the person, (c) the self-ideal as it ought to be as the main factor of personality integration, and (d) God as the origin and ultimate goal of human existence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The relationship between psychology and religion has been widely debated in the field of psychology from its foundation as an empirical science to the present day. One author who was interested in the relationship between psychology and religion, the place of the latter in human nature, and its role in psychotherapy was the Viennese neurologist, psychiatrist, and philosopher Viktor Emil Frankl (1905–1997), the founder of logotherapy. This paper presents Frankl’s main ideas about religion, the religious nature of the human being, and the relationship between religiosity, psychotherapy, and logotherapy, as well as a review of the main criticisms he has received in this regard. Frankl always defended the differences and limits between religion and psychotherapy, between the priestly cure of souls and the medical cure of souls, and between the salvific objective of religion and the hygienic objective of psychotherapy. In our opinion, critical authors have failed to appreciate Frankl’s efforts to expose this distinction.

At the end of the 19th century, Cardinal Mercier founded the Higher Institute of Philosophy (HIPh) in Louvain, an academic centre that sought to harmonise Thomistic doctrine with both modern science and philosophy. The Vasque priest Juan Zaragueta Bengoechea was trained in the HIPh and occupied a prominent place in Spanish academic life during the first half of the 20th century, making important contributions to philosophy, pedagogy, psychology, and Spanish culture in general. This paper presents a portrait of Zaragueta and briefly outlines some of the key aspects of his conception of psychology.

Depression is a mental disorder that is associated with low quality of life, increased risk of suicide and a high economic cost for society. Meta-analyses indicate that Meaning Centred Psychotherapies (MCP) are an efficacious psychotherapy to reduce depression in participants with chronic illness and cancer. However, to date, no systematic review has analysed the effectiveness of MCP in depressed participants who do not have a physical illness or cancer. The objective of this study was to carry out a systematic review to analyse the effectiveness of MCP in participants with depression and no physical illness. The search was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines (PRISMA). Six studies (two randomised controlled trials and four quasi-experimental studies) were included in the systematic review. The results indicate that MCP is more effective than a control group as waitlist (four studies), psychoeducation group (one study), and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT, one study), in reducing depressive symptoms, improving meaning in life and reducing anxiety in participants without physical illness. MCP would be considered a probably efficacious treatment for depression. However, further research with better experimental designs will be necessary to confirm the effectiveness of MCP for depression.

Background Caregiving is a strong source of stress and leads the family caregiver to experience the burden of being responsible for the care of a severely mentally ill family member. The Burden Assessment Scale (BAS) assesses burden in family caregivers. This study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the BAS in a sample of family caregivers of people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Methods Participants were 233 Spanish family caregivers (157 women and 76 men aged between 16–76 years old, M = 54.44, SD = 10.09) of people diagnosed with BPD. The BAS, the Multicultural Quality of Life Index, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 were used. Results An exploratory analysis resulted in a three-factor 16-item model (Disrupted Activities; Personal and Social Dysfunction; Worry, Guilt, and Being Overwhelmed) with an excellent fit (χ 2 (101) = 56.873, p = 1.000, CFI = 1.000, TLI = 1.000, RMSEA = .000, SRMR = .060), good internal consistency (ω = .93), a negative correlation with quality of life, and a positive correlation with anxiety, depression, and stress. Conclusion The model obtained for the BAS is a valid, reliable, and useful tool for assessing burden in family caregivers of relatives diagnosed with BPD.

BackgroundTo date, several evidence-based interventions have been created to help relatives of people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), but few studies have analyzed the clinical situation of the family members. The aim of this study was twofold: (1) to explore the clinical symptomatology in a sample of parents of people diagnosed with BPD and compare them with a sample of a sample of people without a relative with a personality disorder, (2) to explore whether the parents of people diagnosed with BPD have psychopathology related to personality disorders (PD) or meet the diagnostic criteria for PD.MethodParticipants were 42 (39.6%) fathers and 64 (60.4%) were mothers and mothers (n = XX, −%) of people diagnosed with BPD, who were selected from a specialized PD unit for treatment. The sample of people without a relative with a PD was obtained from social network announcements. To test for differences between the two groups, Student’s t tests were performed for quantitative variables, and Chi-square tests were performed for categorical variables. Cohen’s d was calculated as a measure of the effect size.ResultsParents of people with BPD showed greater depressive and anxious symptomatology, higher levels of expressed emotion, and worse quality of life than the sample of people without a relative with a personality disorder. In addition, a high percentage of the parents of people diagnosed with BPD (50%) met the diagnostic criteria for different PD.ConclusionParents of people diagnosed with BPD may need psychological help in various aspects. Therapists are therefore advised to bear in mind the importance of carrying out a psychological assessment of family members and, if necessary, to offer psychological intervention. It is crucial to invite the family to be part of the treatment, since they can be part of the solution.Clinical Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID, NCT04160871 (registered November 15, 2019).