Palliative & supportive care
The effectiveness of meaning-based interventions in reducing suicide-related vulnerability: A systematic review
By Gwon TK and Jung HO.
Abstract
Objectives
Existential factors such as loss of meaning play a central role in suicide-related vulnerability, yet most prevention interventions target symptom reduction. We aimed to systematically review the effects of meaning-based interventions on suicide-related outcomes and characterize the mechanisms through which these effects operate.
Methods
A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Six databases (PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Research Information Sharing Service, and Korean Studies Information Service System) were searched from inception to April 2026. Studies were included if they evaluated meaning-based interventions and reported suicide-related outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2 for randomized trials and RoBANS for nonrandomized studies. Given heterogeneity across populations, interventions, and outcomes, findings were synthesized narratively by domain.