Meaning in Life Among a Sample of Patients with Renal Failure in Misurata

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the level of meaning in life among patients with renal failure in Misrata and to investigate whether there are statistically significant differences according to gender, age, marital status, educational level, and duration of illness. The researcher adopted a descriptive-analytical approach and applied the study to a simple random sample of 100 patients (43 males and 57 females) attending the outpatient dialysis units at Misrata Medical Center and the Mahjoub Dialysis Unit. Data were collected using the Meaning in Life Scale developed by Haroun Tawfiq Al-Rashidi (1996). The findings revealed that the overall level of meaning in life among the sample was moderate (74%). Furthermore, no statistically significant differences at the 0.05 level were found across the demographic variables studied. Based on these results, the study recommends increasing awareness of the importance of fostering meaning in life among individuals with chronic illnesses (such as renal failure, heart disease, and cancer), and emphasizes the need to address the psychological and social needs of patients with renal failure by activating the role of clinical psychologists and establishing counseling centers within dialysis units