FROM EXISTENTIAL EMPTINESS TO LIFE SATISFACTION: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT

Abstract

This article aimed to investigate the relationship between existential vacuum and life satisfaction, analyzing the mediating role of perceived social support (from family, friends, and significant others) in light of Viktor Frankl's Viktor Frankl logotherapy. A total of 310 adults from the general population participated in the study and completed the following instruments: the Purpose in Life Test (PIL-Test), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Data were analyzed using JAMOVI software (version 2.3.8) through Pearson's correlation and conditional analyses. The study was conducted in accordance with ethical principles under CAAE Nº. 85399424.1.0000.5179. The results showed that social support is associated with the perception of existential vacuum and life satisfaction. Furthermore, perceived social support was found to have a partial mediating effect on the relationship between existential vacuum and life satisfaction. These findings reinforce the importance of social support networks as a resource for preserving mental health and coping with existential suffering.