Ability to mentalize and the sense of meaning in life in the professional group of nurses: a cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Background: Mentalization supports emotion regulation and interpersonal functioning, and meaning in life is a key psychological resource in nursing. This study examined associations between mentalizing capacity and meaning in life among practicing nurses.

Material and methods: In a cross-sectional survey (February-March 2025) of 93 nurses (66 women, 27 men) working in hospital wards and public outpatient clinics in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship (Poland), mentalization was assessed with the Mentalization Scale (MentS), including the subscales: Mentalization of Self, Mentalization of Others, and Motivation to Mentalize. Meaning in life was measured with the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) - the Presence and Search subscales of the MLQ - and the Purpose in Life Test (PIL). The PIL dimension attitude towards death and suicide was excluded due to unacceptable internal consistency ( α = 0.07). Analyses used Pearson correlations with false discovery rate control (Benjamini-Hochberg, q = 0.05) and multiple regression models entering the 3 MentS dimensions simultaneously while controlling for age and gender (N = 91, listwise deletion).

Results: Self-oriented mentalizing correlated with MLQ Presence (r = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.18-0.53) and strongly with PIL purpose in life (r = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.61-0.81). Associations were generally stronger for PIL dimensions than for MLQ Search. In regression, self-oriented mentalizing uniquely predicted MLQ Presence (ß = 0.40, R² = 0.182) and PIL total (ß = 0.54, R² = 0.464). The regression model for MLQ Search was not significant (R²= 0.092).

Conclusions: Higher mentalizing - particularly self-oriented mentalizing - was associated with a stronger sense of meaning in life in nurses, primarily reflecting meaning presence rather than meaning search. Given the cross-sectional design and convenience sample, findings are associative and warrant replication in larger studies. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2026;77(2):101-109.