A new study suggests that depression diminishes a person’s sense of meaning in life by triggering feelings of loneliness and lowering their self-evaluation. The research identifies specific psychological pathways that vary across different developmental stages, from adolescence to middle adulthood. These findings were published in the Journal of Humanistic Psychology. The concept of meaning in life is considered a fundamental human need. It generally refers to a subjective experience where an individual feels their life has coherence, purpose, and significance. Mental health professionals recognize that this sense of meaning is closely tied to overall psychological well-being. Depression is known to disrupt this sense of purpose, often leaving individuals feeling disconnected or aimless. While the link between depression and a lack of meaning is well-established, the specific psychological mechanisms that drive this relationship have been less clear. The authors of the nwe study sought to understand how depression ultimately erodes a person’s sense of meaning. They proposed that two specific factors might act as intermediaries: loneliness and core self-evaluation. Loneliness involves a distressing feeling of social …