Exploring meaning in life as a potential target for early intervention – results from a randomized trauma analogue study

<b>Background:</b> Previous studies in individuals exposed to stressors, including traumatic ones, have shown inverse relations between life meaning and distress. Furthermore, meaning-related treatments can benefit (traumatic) stressor-exposed individuals. However, the evidence regarding the effect of life meaning interventions on PTSD symptoms is limited. Moreover, early post-stressor interventions preventing distress are needed. This study investigated the effects of a short, online life meaning intervention after an analogue traumatic stressor on intrusions and anxiety following the intervention, intrusions over a week, and explored distress and life meaning differences after a week. <b>Method:</b> Following an analogue traumatic stressor (i.e. an aversive film), <i>N</i> = 237 participants were randomized to a life meaning intervention, an active or inactive control condition. Participants completed questionnaires in the laboratory, in an online seven-day diary, and at one-week follow-up. <b>Results:</b> The intervention resulted in significantly lower post-intervention state anxiety and higher life meaning, but not significantly less severe wait-period intrusions than the control conditions. Intrusions in the subsequent week as well as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and life meaning after a week did not significantly differ between the conditions. <b>Conclusion:</b> This intervention showed promising temporary effects on anxiety and life meaning after a trauma analogue, but no significant longer-term effects and no effects on PTSD symptoms including intrusions. Meaning-related interventions for PTSD target stressor-related meaning-making rather than life meaning. Thus, future studies may benefit from implementing more intense interventions to extend effects on general distress, as well as stressor-addressing meaning interventions to elicit stressor-related meaning-making. Meaning in life may counteract psychological distress in the context of (traumatic) stressors.The current study investigated the effect of a short life meaning intervention on psychological distress after an analogue traumatic stressor.Compared to control conditions, individuals who received the life meaning intervention reported greater state meaning in life and lower state anxiety. However, the intervention did not result in significantly less severe intrusions. Meaning in life may counteract psychological distress in the context of (traumatic) stressors. The current study investigated the effect of a short life meaning intervention on psychological distress after an analogue traumatic stressor. Compared to control conditions, individuals who received the life meaning intervention reported greater state meaning in life and lower state anxiety. However, the intervention did not result in significantly less severe intrusions.