6723 PSOCIAL 2422-619X Universidad de Buenos Aires Argentina hugosimkin@sociales.uba.ar 672383461002 10.6214/psocial.11131 Sin sección Purpose in Life as a Protective Factor Against Trauma: Empirical Evidence in War Veterans https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6299-2231 Yaccarini C. yaccarini.cecilia@maimonides.edu Universidad Maimónides Argentina Universidad Maimónides https://ror.org/01tkmq646 Diciembre 2025 11 2 e6 Abstract

Purpose in life has emerged as a central construct within contemporary positive psychology, as it provides direction, coherence, and the establishment of meaningful personal goals. Conceived as a dynamic phenomenon that evolves throughout the life span, purpose may fluctuate according to individuals’ lived experiences and sociocultural contexts. International research has widely documented its relevance for mental health, highlighting its association with emotional regulation, psychological well-being, resilience, and the capacity to attribute meaning to adverse experiences. In this framework, purpose in life has been increasingly conceptualized as a protective factor against the onset and persistence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The present article reviews theoretical contributions and empirical findings regarding the relationship between purpose in life and trauma, with particular emphasis on war veteran populations. Evidence indicates that higher levels of purpose are associated with lower PTSD symptom severity, reduced suicidal ideation, and better psychosocial functioning, whereas the absence of purpose is linked to greater psychological vulnerability. Although most research has been conducted in the United States, emerging findings in veterans of the South Atlantic conflict highlight the relevance of this construct in other sociocultural contexts. Overall, the literature supports the inclusion of purpose in life as a key variable for understanding adaptation to traumatic experiences and promoting posttraumatic growth.

 Resumen

El propósito en la vida ha emergido como un constructo central dentro de la psicología positiva contemporánea, ya que proporciona dirección, coherencia y favorece el establecimiento de metas personales significativas. Concebido como un fenómeno dinámico que evoluciona a lo largo del ciclo vital, el propósito puede fluctuar según las experiencias vividas y los contextos socioculturales de los individuos. La investigación internacional ha documentado ampliamente su relevancia para la salud mental, destacando su asociación con la regulación emocional, el bienestar psicológico, la resiliencia y la capacidad de atribuir significado a experiencias adversas. En este marco, el propósito en la vida ha sido conceptualizado crecientemente como un factor protector frente a la aparición y persistencia del trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT). El presente artículo revisa aportes teóricos y hallazgos empíricos sobre la relación entre el propósito en la vida y el trauma, con especial énfasis en poblaciones de veteranos de guerra. La evidencia indica que niveles más elevados de propósito se asocian con menor severidad de síntomas de TEPT, menor ideación suicida y mejor funcionamiento psicosocial, mientras que la ausencia de propósito se vincula con mayor vulnerabilidad psicológica. Aunque la mayoría de los estudios se han desarrollado en Estados Unidos, hallazgos recientes en veteranos del conflicto del Atlántico Sur resaltan la relevancia de este constructo en otros contextos socioculturales. En conjunto, la literatura respalda la inclusión del propósito en la vida como una variable clave para comprender la adaptación a experiencias traumáticas y promover el crecimiento postraumático.

 Keywords Purpose in Life Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Trauma War Veterans Palabras clave Propósito en la Vida Trastorno de Estrés Postraumático Trauma Veteranos de Guerra redalyc-journal-id 6723 <bold>Purpose in Life</bold>

The study of purpose in life is situated within the field of positive psychology, a discipline oriented toward the scientific analysis of human strengths and virtues, with an emphasis on individual potentialities (Lupano Perugini & Castro Solano, 2010). In Latin America, research in positive psychology has been relatively scarce (Kim et al., 2018), as psychological scientific production has historically focused on the study of psychopathology (Donaldson & Heshmati, 2022). This situation is explained, in part, by the relatively recent development of positive psychology, which emerged toward the end of the twentieth century, in contrast to the long-standing research tradition centered on mental disorders (García-Alandete, 2015; Simkin et al., 2018).

The concept of purpose in life was introduced into the social sciences by Viktor Frankl (1984), based on his experiences as a prisoner in concentration camps during the Holocaust. In that extreme context, Frankl engaged in the search for a profound sense of existence, even under conditions of extreme suffering (Schimmoeller & Rothhaar, 2021; Sipowicz et al., 2022).

According to Frankl’s contributions, purpose constitutes an inner force linked to the responsibility each individual assumes toward their own existence and to the particular meaning that life acquires at different moments. From his perspective, when a person is able to identify a “why” to live for, they are in a better position to face adversity with strength and resilience (Crumbaugh & Maholick, 1964; Frankl, 1958).

Later, Ryff (1989) conceptualized purpose in life as the individual’s capacity to find meaning in their experiences and to establish meaningful goals. She included the purpose as one of the central dimensions of psychological well-being, together with self-acceptance, positive relations, autonomy, environmental mastery, and personal growth. Numerous studies have highlighted purpose as one of the most relevant components within the field of positive psychology (Fang et al., 2024; Ribeiro et al., 2020; Ryff, 2018; Ryff & Keyes, 1995; Snyder & Lopez, 2009), underscoring its potential to promote personal growth (Kashdan et al., 2023; Reker, 1997).

In general terms, purpose in life is defined as the perception that life has meaning and intentional direction, playing a fundamental role in the formulation of life goals and in the motivation to achieve them. This search may emerge even in critical situations, in which individuals are driven to question their own existence (AshaRani et al., 2022; Luhmann & Intelisano, 2018; Ribeiro et al., 2020; Ryff & Singer, 1998).

Bronk (2014, 2020) identifies three essential components of purpose: commitment, goal orientation, and personal meaning. Commitment refers to the construction of a coherent sense of self, grounded in connection with personal values and beliefs. Goal orientation implies that present actions are directed toward future outcomes. Finally, personal meaning refers to the central place that purpose occupies in an individual’s life and to its influence on behavior, thoughts, and emotions (Kashdan et al., 2023).

Within this framework, purpose is linked to the pursuit of highly meaningful goals and to a deep affective commitment. When purpose is clear, it facilitates the identification of what is truly relevant in one’s own life (Cazabonne, 2019; Frankl, 1984).

Although the constructs of purpose and meaning in life have frequently been used as synonyms, several authors have pointed out conceptual differences between them. While both are associated with higher quality of life, purpose involves active engagement with existence and is oriented toward action and goal attainment, constituting a specific dimension of well-being (AshaRani et al., 2022; Fang et al., 2024). Meaning in life, by contrast, represents a broader subjective perception linked to the belief that life has value and significance. This perception may derive not only from purpose but also from factors such as religion, social bonds, or philosophical conceptions of existence (Alonso et al., 2023).

Even Frankl conceived purpose as a pathway toward the construction of a deeper sense of life (AshaRani et al., 2022; Frankl, 1984). Some studies suggest that meaning in life fosters the development of purpose (Martela & Steger, 2016; Martínez Ortiz et al., 2011), whereas others propose that establishing a purpose facilitates the consolidation of a broader sense of life meaning (Bronk, 2012; Damon et al., 2003; Ryff, 1989; Weber et al., 2022).

The variability of purpose appears to be mainly associated with engagement in meaningful activities, the quality of interpersonal relationships, and exposure to stressors throughout life (Hill et al., 2022, 2023). Across all life stages, low levels of purpose have been linked to feelings of existential emptiness and hopelessness (Schimmoeller & Rothhaar, 2021), potentially leading to existential frustration (Alonso et al., 2023). Moreover, the absence of purpose has been associated with an increased risk of mental disorders and suicidal behaviors (Nkyi & Ninnoni, 2020; Straus et al., 2019).

 <bold>Purpose as a Protective Factor Against Trauma</bold>

Purpose in life has been identified as a relevant protective factor against psychological disorders, particularly following exposure to traumatic events. Frankl (1984) had already noted that the ability to find valuable goals in contexts of extreme suffering allows individuals to construct meaning and to confront adversity with greater resilience.

Numerous studies have shown that higher purpose is associated with greater life satisfaction, better regulation of the stress response system, lower hopelessness (Guerrero-Torrelles et al., 2017), greater subjective well-being, and more adaptive emotional regulation, thus constituting a central resource for resilience (Bonanno, 2021; Kashdan et al., 2023; Ribeiro et al., 2020). The development of purpose provides a sense of mission that attenuates the impact of adverse events (Cazabonne, 2019; Kashdan & McKnight, 2009).

Likewise, higher levels of purpose are linked to lower subjective stress and greater psychological flexibility, facilitating cognitive reappraisal processes that are fundamental for emotional regulation (Sutin et al., 2024) and reducing the likelihood of posttraumatic symptoms (Goodman et al., 2018). In this sense, the search for purpose following a traumatic event may foster posttraumatic growth (Kashdan et al., 2023), rather than intensifying stress (De Jong et al., 2020).

By contrast, low levels of purpose and meaning in life are associated with a higher prevalence of PTSD symptoms and comorbid diagnoses (Gross et al., 2019; Kachadourian et al., 2019). A recent study indicated that high purpose reduces the risk of developing mental disorders, including PTSD, by between 42% and 94% (Fischer et al., 2023). Individuals who are able to reconstruct a sense of purpose after trauma tend to experience greater life meaning, a more integrated worldview, and a strengthened self-concept, thereby promoting posttraumatic growth (Groleau et al., 2013; Park et al., 2008).

<bold>Loss and Reconstruction of Purpose After Traumatic Events</bold>

In some cases, traumatic experiences may generate a loss of purpose by affecting perceptions of control and the appraisal of one’s own capacities (Anaya et al., 2020; Yager & Kay, 2023). Nevertheless, other studies indicate that following highly stressful experiences, many individuals are able to redefine their life goals, experiencing greater personal strength and improvements in interpersonal relationships (Bilbao et al., 2013; Páez et al., 2008). It has even been observed that direct exposure to a traumatic event may be associated with a clearer life perspective and a stronger sense of existence compared to indirect exposure (Bombelli et al., 2018).

From terror management theory, purpose in life has been shown to be inversely related to fear of death (Furman, 2022; Hassan et al., 2019), acting as a buffer against existential anxiety that emerges after events such as wars or natural disasters (Dunaetz, 2020). Within this framework, PTSD may develop when protective factors such as purpose fail to mitigate this anxiety, given that purpose helps to reduce feelings of vulnerability and promotes experiences of transcendence (Herr & Buchanan, 2020).

 <bold>Studies on the Construct in War Veterans</bold>

In veteran populations, purpose in life has been associated with lower suicidal ideation (Kachadourian et al., 2019; Straus et al., 2019), lower levels of distress, depression, and PTSD symptom severity (Blackburn & Owens, 2015; Currier et al., 2015), as well as better occupational and family functioning and better physical health (Bryan et al., 2020; Kinney et al., 2021), additionally promoting healthier aging (Rozanova et al., 2015).

Research conducted with members of the United States National Guard has shown that positive emotions and a strong sense of purpose within military units significantly improved psychological health and reduced PTSD severity (Bryan et al., 2020). Similarly, studies of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan indicated that those who maintained high levels of purpose after returning exhibited more adaptive coping and lower risk of mental and physical health problems, whereas low levels of purpose were associated with greater psychological vulnerability (Park et al., 2023).

Most studies on purpose in veterans have been conducted in U.S. populations (Blackburn & Owens, 2015; Fischer et al., 2023; Kachadourian et al., 2019; Kinney et al., 2021; Park et al., 2023; Straus et al., 2019). In Argentina, although purpose in life has been widely studied in the general population (Castro Solano & Díaz Morales, 2002; Castro Solano & Sánchez López, 2000; Simkin et al., 2018; Zubieta & Delfino, 2010), its examination in war veterans has been limited. Recently, a study conducted with veterans of the South Atlantic Conflict examined the relationship between purpose in life and PTSD symptoms (Yaccarini, 2025), finding that higher levels of purpose were associated with lower posttraumatic symptomatology. Furthermore, the absence of purpose explained the presence of complex PTSD symptoms, characterized by emotional dysregulation, negative self-concept, and interpersonal difficulties (Cloitre et al., 2018; Hyland et al., 2021; WHO, 2018).

 <bold>Conclusions</bold>

Purpose in life emerges as a central psychological construct for understanding well-being and mental health, particularly in contexts of adversity.

Purpose in life plays a fundamental role in emotional regulation, resilience, and meaning-making, acting as a protective factor against the impact of traumatic events. In this regard, having clear life goals and affective commitment to them facilitates cognitive reappraisal of adverse experiences and contributes to mitigating the onset and persistence of symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress disorder.

Likewise, the absence or weakening of purpose is associated with negative psychological consequences, such as feelings of existential emptiness, hopelessness, increased vulnerability to mental disorders, and suicide risk. These findings reinforce the relevance of considering purpose in life as a key variable in the assessment and understanding of mental health, both in the general population and in groups exposed to extreme experiences.

Studies in war veteran populations provide consistent evidence regarding the protective role of purpose in life against posttraumatic symptomatology, suicidal ideation, and deterioration in psychosocial functioning. Nevertheless, most of this research has been conducted in specific cultural contexts, primarily in the United States, highlighting the need to expand the study of this construct to other sociocultural settings. Within this framework, recent findings in veterans of the South Atlantic Conflict demonstrate the association between higher levels of purpose and a lower presence of PTSD symptoms, including its complex manifestation.

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