The Meaning of Life in the Elderly: The Role of Logotherapy in Reducing Hopelessness
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35134/jpsy165.v19i1.642Keywords:
elderly, hopelessness, logotherapy, meaning of life, psychological well-beingAbstract
Aging naturally triggers physical and psychological changes that often lead to hopelessness, characterized by a loss of hope and control over the future. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of logotherapy in reducing hopelessness by strengthening the meaning of life among elderly women. Using a quantitative pre-test and post-test design, 33 participants aged 57–82 years at Griya Lansia X Yogyakarta were assessed using the General Hopelessness Scale. Data analysis using the Paired Sample t-Test showed a significant difference between pre-test and post-test scores (t = 10.33, p < .001). These findings prove that logotherapy is effective in helping the elderly rediscover life goals and psychological well-being. This intervention serves as a strategic protective measure for vulnerable elderly groups to restore their social roles and daily life satisfaction.
References
Cheng, J., Chen, S., & Zhang, Y. (2026). Health lifestyle and mental health status among older adults: A latent class analysis. Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, 38, 102311. doi:10.1016/j.cegh.2026.102311
Christl, J., Grumbach, P., Jockwitz, C., Wege, N., Caspers, S., & Meisenzahl, E. (2026). Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between subthreshold depressive symptoms and cognition, physical health, and quality of life in older adults aged 55+: A retrospective study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 397, 120885. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2025.120885
Beck, A. T., Weissman, A., Lester, D., & Trexler, L. (1974). The measurement of pessimism: The hopelessness scale. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 42(6), 861–865. doi:10.1037/h0037562
Stahnke, B., Davis, R., Cooley, M., & Farmer, P. (2025). Reflections of those who have lived: Phenomenological perspectives from adults at end-of-life from an Eriksonian lens. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus, 2, 100175. doi:10.1016/j.aggp.2025.100175
Hernandez, S. C., & Overholser, J. C. (2021). A systematic review of interventions for hope/hopelessness in older adults. Clinical Gerontologist, 44(2), 97–111. doi:10.1080/07317115.2019.1711281
Okfrima, R., Yola, E. P., & Fikri, H. T. (2021). Hubungan antara dukungan sosial keluarga dengan kualitas hidup pada lansia di Nagari Paninjauan Kec. X Koto Diatas Kab. Solok. Psyche 165 Journal, 14(2), 173–179. doi:10.35134/jpsy165.v14i2.58
Putri, G. A., & Yulianti, A. (2022). Dukungan sosial keluarga dan successful aging pada lanjut usia. Psyche 165 Journal, 15(2), 62–67. doi:10.35134/jpsy165.v15i2.162
Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man’s search for meaning. Beacon Press.
Hendrasti, N., Mariana, R., & Fikri, H. T. (2021). Hubungan antara Spiritualitas dengan Kesiapan Lansia dalam Menghadapi Kematian di Panti Sosial Tresna Werdha Sabai Nan Aluih Sicincin. Psyche 165 Journal, 14(1), 88–96. doi:10.35134/jpsy165.v14i1.99
Afrashteh, M. Y., Majzoobi, M. R., Janjani, P., & Forstmeier, S. (2024). The relationship between the meaning of life, psychological well-being, self-care, and social capital, with depression and death anxiety in the elderly living in nursing homes: The mediating role of loneliness. Heliyon, 10(5), e30124. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30124
Egger, E., Schwartz, A., Qin, R. X., Khulal, A., Maharjan, U., Monin, J. K., & Hagaman, A. K. (2026). "We are left alone": A qualitative study of life satisfaction of older adults in rural Nepal. Health & Place, 98, 103612. doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2026.103612
Maharani, A., & Safaria, T. (2023). Efektivitas intervensi berbasis logoterapi untuk menurunkan kecemasan pada lansia pengidap diabetes melitus. Psyche 165 Journal, 16(3), 195–203. doi:10.35134/jpsy165.v16i3.271
Drinkwater, K., Denovan, A., Dagnall, N., & Williams, C. (2023). The general hopelessness scale: Development of a measure of hopelessness for non-clinical samples. PLOS ONE, 18(6), e0287016. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0287016
Aydin, M., & Kutlu, F. Y. (2021). The effect of group art therapy on loneliness and hopelessness levels of older adults living alone: A randomized controlled study. Florence Nightingale Journal of Nursing, 29(3), 271–284. doi:10.5152/fnjn.2021.20224
Cicek, S., Coskun, H., Ozdemir, S., Acikgoz, A., & Isko, S. (2021). The effects of coping strategies and relaxation exercises on anxiety, hopelessness, life satisfaction, and well-being in elderly people with diabetes: An experimental study. Annals of Medical Research, 28(5), 950–956. doi:10.5455/annalsmedres.2020.07.779
Sajeev, A., Kakunje, A., & Karkal, R. (2022). Hopelessness and quality of life in elderly: A community-based cross-sectional study. Journal of Geriatric Mental Health, 9(1), 21–25. doi:10.4103/jgmh.jgmh
Taghizadeh, M. (2023). Investigating the effect of existential therapy on feelings of helplessness and failure, feelings of old age and emptiness, and feelings of confusion and conflict in retired teachers. Novelty in Clinical Medicine, 2(1), 56–61. doi:10.22034/NCM.2023.381128.1064
Babakhani, F., & Azarmi, H. (2023). The effectiveness of existential group therapy on existential anxiety and the quality of life in the elderly. Aging Psychology, 9(2), 167–180. doi:10.22126/JAP.2023.8371.1668
Ravari, A., Mirzaei, T., Hosieni, F., & Hassanshahi, E. (2021). Comparison of the effects of cognitive therapy and logotherapy on Iranian elderly people’s general health. International Journal of Community Based Nursing and Midwifery, 9(4), 289–299. doi:10.30476/ijcbnm.2021.88217.1497
Kim, C., & Choi, H. (2021). The efficacy of group logotherapy on community-dwelling older adults with depressive symptoms: A mixed methods study. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 57(2), 920–928. doi:10.1111/ppc.12635
Owen, R., Berry, K., & Brown, L. J. E. (2022). Enhancing older adults’ well-being and quality of life through purposeful activity: A systematic review of intervention studies. Gerontologist, 62(6), 317–327. doi:10.1093/geront/gnab017
Ajizzah, E. B., Afandi, N., & Agustin, R. D. (2023). Pemaknaan kebahagiaan pada lanjut usia di Panti Sosial Tresna Werdha Nirwana Puri Kota Samarinda. TAUJIHAT: Jurnal Bimbingan Konseling Islam, 4(1), 18–31. doi:10.21093/tj.v4i1.6551
RN., F. K. S., Chiu, N. M., Yao, Y. C., Wu, M. K., Hung, C. F., Chen, C. C., Lee, Y. H., & Chiang, C. Y. (2022). The effects of logotherapy on meaning in life, depression, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation in patients with depression: An intervention study. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 58(4), 1891–1899. doi:10.1111/ppc.13003
Alam, F., Elsayed Ibrahim, E., & El-Amrosy, S. H. (2023). Effectiveness of logotherapy training on self-esteem, communication skills and impact of event among older adults. International Egyptian Journal of Nursing Sciences and Research, 3(2), 486–505. doi:10.21608/ejnsr.2023.278176
Humer, E., Kisler, I. M., Bach, D., Schimböck, W., Pieh, C., & Probst, T. (2025). Effect of a group logotherapeutic program for older adults on mental health indicators. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 64(1), 68–90. doi:10.1002/johc.12216
Wang, Y., Xu, Q., Tian, H., & Yin, P. (2024). Positive social mentalities and quality of spiritual living in old age: Roles of social participation and life meaning. INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care, 61(1), 1–9. doi:10.1177/00469580241282061
Kirana, K. C. (2021). Gambaran pengalaman kesepian dan penerapan logoterapi pada perempuan lansia warga binaan panti wreda. Insight: Jurnal Ilmiah Psikologi, 23(1), 46–64. doi:10.26486/psikologi.v23i1.1409
Syaifussalam, M. L., Qurniasih, N., & Wilantika, R. (2025). Program Titik Ndelik untuk meningkatkan makna hidup dan kesejahteraan psikologis lansia di Lembaga Kesejahteraan Sosial Amanah Bunda Pringsewe. Indonesia Berdaya, 6(1), 291–300. doi:10.47679/ib.20251034
Alqasimi, M. A., & Wahyudi, H. (2025). Efektivitas logoterapi untuk meningkatkan makna hidup pada purnawirawan perwira menengah TNI-AD. Ranah Research: Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development, 7(4), 2455–2476. doi:10.38035/rrj.v7i4.1502
Susanti, H., & Putri, Y. S. E. (2023). Logotherapy pada lansia dengan masalah psikososial: Systematic review. Jurnal Keperawatan, 15(3), 1463–1470. doi:10.32583/keperawatan.vl5i3.949
Anggoro, L. S., Christiana, E. H., & Nathania, E. I. D. (2024). Efektivitas logoterapi untuk menurunkan tingkat depresi dan meningkatkan kebermaknaan hidup penderita gangguan depresi. Jurnal Integrasi Riset Psikologi, 2(2), 24–35. doi:10.26486/intensi.v2i2.3972
Hernandez, S. C., & Overholser, J. C. (2021). A systematic review of interventions for hope/hopelessness in older adults. Clinical Gerontologist, 44(2), 97–111. doi:10.1080/07317115.2019.1711281
Aktana, Z., & Eksi, H. (2022). The effect of the logotherapy-based group psychological counseling program on widowed Syrian refugee women’s well-being. TRC Journal of Humanitarian Action, 1(1), 31–48. doi:10.55280/trcjha.2022.1.1.0005









