Theoretical statements on life projects: A scoping review

V. Coscioni; M.A. Portugal; M.A.P. Teixeira; M.P. Paixão

doi:10.1177/09593543231195797

Theoretical statements on life projects: A scoping review

V. Coscioni^*
, M.A. Portugal
, M.A.P. Teixeira
, M.P. Paixão

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

This scoping review identified and synthesized the theoretical statements on life projects contained in articles indexed in databases of psychology and related fields. Six online databases were searched for articles using the term life project in their titles, abstracts, or keywords. Only articles that contained theoretical statements on life projects were included, yielding 93 manuscripts. A total of 15 theoretical approaches from diverse fields were identified. A thematic analysis with the articles’ theoretical statements resulted in six themes describing different properties and correlates of life projects. Another thematic analysis, based on the articles’ explicit life project definitions, resulted in four defining features. The findings reveal that the theoretical approaches and life project definitions conflict with each other. However, the theoretical dimensions and defining features enabled the identification of commonalities across the theories. Future studies need to integrate these distinct theoretical dimensions and defining features to form a comprehensive theory of the life project.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	40-66
Number of pages	27
Journal	Theory and psychology
Volume	34
Issue number	1
Early online date	11 Sept 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/09593543231195797
Publication status	Published - Feb 2024
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brazil (Capes) – Finance Code 88882.346414/2010-01 (Doctoral Scholarship) and 88887.363292/2019-00 (‘Sandwich’ Doctoral Scholarship).

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2023.

Funding

The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brazil (Capes) – Finance Code 88882.346414/2010-01 (Doctoral Scholarship) and 88887.363292/2019-00 (‘Sandwich’ Doctoral Scholarship).

Funders	Funder number
Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior - Brazil (Capes)	88882.346414/2010-01, 88887.363292/2019-00

Keywords

life projects
motivation
narrative identity
personality
scoping review

Access to Document

10.1177/09593543231195797Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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abstract = "This scoping review identified and synthesized the theoretical statements on life projects contained in articles indexed in databases of psychology and related fields. Six online databases were searched for articles using the term life project in their titles, abstracts, or keywords. Only articles that contained theoretical statements on life projects were included, yielding 93 manuscripts. A total of 15 theoretical approaches from diverse fields were identified. A thematic analysis with the articles{\textquoteright} theoretical statements resulted in six themes describing different properties and correlates of life projects. Another thematic analysis, based on the articles{\textquoteright} explicit life project definitions, resulted in four defining features. The findings reveal that the theoretical approaches and life project definitions conflict with each other. However, the theoretical dimensions and defining features enabled the identification of commonalities across the theories. Future studies need to integrate these distinct theoretical dimensions and defining features to form a comprehensive theory of the life project.",

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Theoretical statements on life projects: A scoping review

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

Access to Document

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