The contribution of spirituality to university students’ meaning in life

Spirituality's relationship with a sense of meaning in life among emerging adults has been an important topic in health and social sciences, including psychology, medicine, and public health. Recognizing the critical role of meaning in life for healthy adult development, this integrative literature review explores the association between spirituality and meaning in life in university students, framed through Viktor Frankl's Logotherapy. Covering studies from 2000 to 2024, we employed a three-stage process: (1) identifying 184 studies across Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French in major databases; (2) narrowing the selection to 117 studies focusing on spirituality, meaning, Logotherapy, and university students; and (3) analyzing 21 articles and four books addressing two or more themes comprehensively. Our findings underscore spirituality's significant role in fostering reflection on life's purpose, guiding young adults through adversity, and contributing to their overall sense of meaning. The study highlights the importance of integrating spirituality into academic training and curricula to promote well-being and resilience among students.