Existential topics in advanced age
Meaning, existential loneliness and mental health in nursing home residents
The life stage of advanced age is characterized by challenges, but also by loss experiences. In this line of research, we study how nursing home residents experience meaning in their lives, and how a loss of meaning in life and existential loneliness is related to decreased mental health, visible in augmented depressive symptoms.
​
​
​
​
Main contact: Jessie Dezutter
Geriatric depressive symptoms and existential distress
Despite the similarities between depressive symptoms and existential distress (like meaninglessness and existential loneliness),virtually no knowledge is available on how they relate to each other in a nursing home population. This project aims to clarify the relationship between geriatric depressive symptoms and existential distress, and does this both from the perspective of nursing home residents and nursing home professionals.
​
Main contact: Julie Vissers
Meaning in life and
psychological and cognitive functioning in dementia
In this line of research, we focus on the experience of meaning in life in older adults with dementia and its relation to their well-being and cognitive functioning over time, using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Main contact: Laura Dewitte
Tiredness of life and existential anxiety
This project aims to understand of the role of existential anxiety (due to existential isolation, meaninglessness, and guilt) in older adults who are tired of life without suffering from a severe physical or mental disorder. We will make use of a mixed method design to explore both the lived experience and the development of existential anxiety and tiredness of life over time.
​
​
​
Main contact: Judith Appel
Conceptual topics in existential and positive psychology
The psychological concept of meaning in life
These studies try to gain insight in the phenomenon and concept of ‘meaning in life’ by asking individuals to describe their ideas and experiences (bottom-up approach). Aim of these studies is to provide knowledge in order to define and conceptualize this multi-layered phenomenon in a more valid way.
Main contact: Jessie Dezutter
Grace and forgiveness
These studies investigate the psychological understanding and experience of grace and forgiveness. The project is in an interdisciplinary collaboration between psychology (Prof. Dezutter) and theology (Prof. Dillen). The project is explicitly mixed-method and applies novel qualitative research designs and analytic techniques.
Main contact: Tine Schellekens