A review of registered researcharticles and dissertation abstracts in CINAHL from 1982 to des.1996 on the phenomena purpose and meaning in life and other meaningrelated phenomena in nursing research, shows that the researchfield on these phenomenas is poorly related to nursing theory (Thorsen, 1998) (53). The purpose of the article is to present different theories and theoretical perspectives relevant for theoretical anchoring of products in nursing research and clinical nursing related to meaning and purpose in life, existential (and spiritual) issues and other meaningrelated phenomena. The theoretical perspectives enlightened in this article are: Meaning in a normative and humanistic perspective. The nursing process in an existential perspective. Meaning in a sociocultural perspective. Meaning in a perspective of health and growth. Meaning in a perspective of quality of life. Meaning in a medical/illness perspective. Meaning in a perspective of suffering and hope.
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