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Bridging Research and Society Through Online Science Communication 

A Qualitative Study on Meaning-Making in Life Crises from Expert and Lay Perspectives, with Dissemination Through Academic Publications and YouTube

Life crises such as illness, loss or existential upheavals (e.g. death, divorce or career changes) often confront people with fundamental questions of meaning – not least in the context of current societal crisis dynamics. Whilst these experiences are widespread, little is currently known about how people actually find meaning in such situations and what role different life contexts play in this. In particular, there is a lack of systematic documentation of subjective experiences from both expert and layperson perspectives.

Project Overview

Aims of the study

The aim of the study is therefore to investigate which paths to finding meaning in life crises are recommended by experts and which are actually taken by those affected. To this end, we are conducting qualitative interviews with (inter-)national experts from various fields – including psychology and psychotherapy, coaching and counselling, medical care, pastoral care, spirituality, philosophy, as well as business and human resources management – as well as with people who have themselves experienced life crises. The focus is on both the subjective experiences of a loss of meaning and the key attitudes, strategies and conditions that can either facilitate or hinder the search for meaning.

Expected benefits of the study

These interviews will serve as the basis both for academic publications and for the translation of the findings into content published via our YouTube channel, with the aim of making these relevant research findings accessible to the public as ‘living science’. The project thus combines empirical research with innovative online science communication, the latter being under-represented as a tool for external communication, particularly within the German scientific community.

Overall, this study can contribute to strengthening mental health literacy and destigmatising experiences of crisis. This research project views science as a dynamic dialogue process that can offer people guidance and a sense of connection when grappling with existential questions.

Further information

 

Current status of the project

The research project is in the early stages of data collection.

Would you like to contribute your experiences, knowledge or personal story, thereby helping to advance research, science communication and support for others? For this study, we are seeking both experts from the above-mentioned departments and people who have themselves experienced challenging life situations and are willing to share their perspectives.

By taking part, you will help to deepen our understanding of the processes involved in finding meaning and make valuable insights accessible to the scientific community and society at large. Depending on your preference, there is also the opportunity to share your experiences and thoughts with a wider audience via our YouTube channel, ‘Sinn ist kein Zufall’ (Meaning is no coincidence).

We look forward to hearing from you: Dr Melanie Neumann.

Project Management