Existential Approaches to Existential Questions: An Integrative Review of Contemporary Literature in Psychology

Abstract

This study analyses articles published in the field of psychology between 2000 and 2023 on existential void and the meaning of life, focusing on the theoretical framework of logotherapy and its epistemological and practical contributions to the science of the psyche. Building on previous systematic reviews, which mapped the psychological literature on existential void and the meaning of life, with a broad focus and quantitative and qualitative analyses, this article conducts an integrative qualitative review, deepening our understanding of these constructs. A total of 34 qualitative and mixed-methods articles were selected from the following databases: CAPES portal, APA PsycArticles, SCOPUS, SCIELO and PEPSIC, with particular emphasis on 20 studies applying logotherapy. The search terms used related to existential void and the meaning of life, with inclusion criteria centring on topics related to logotherapy. The analysis categorised the studies according to their theoretical core, conceptual structure, variables associated with existential void and the meaning of life, and resources for addressing existential issues. The results highlight the importance of this approach in psychology as both a science and a profession, due to its trans-theoretical nature, which systematises theoretical foundations, such as the triad of values, and therapeutic resources, such as bibliotherapy and Socratic dialogue. This research contributes to epistemological and practical advancement and to the treatment of the existential dimensions of the individual in psychology, delving deeper into the constructs of existential void and the meaning of life, within a landscape dominated by empirical research.