A three-level meta-analysis of the relationship between meaning in life and depression

Depression is a public health issue of global concern. Previously, many studies have analyzed the relationship between meaning in life and depression, but there are discrepancies in the conclusions of both theoretical discussions and empirical studies on the relationship between the two. Therefore, this study uses a three-level meta-analysis method to explore the relationship between the two and further analyze the moderator variables affecting the relationship. After literature retrieval and screening, 278 studies were finally included, covering 312 independent samples, 552 effect values, and a sample size of 252,254. The results showed that meaning in life was moderately negatively correlated with depression (r = -0.332, p < 0.001). The relationship between meaning in life and depression was moderated by components of meaning in life, depression measurement tools, health status, and language, but not by gender, age, individualism index, publication time, publication status, and research design. Further analysis of the moderating effects of each component of meaning in life on the relationship with depression found that age moderated the relationship between presence of meaning and depression, individualism index, individualism-collectivism, and language moderated the relationship between search for meaning and depression, and health status and language moderated the relationship between purpose in life and depression. The results of this study are significant for the psychological intervention of depression, which can provide guidance for optimizing intervention measures and help improve the intervention effect of meaning in life on depression.