The Utility of the Purpose-in-Life Test in Persons With AIDS Mary Pat Lewis, PhD, RN Judith A. Erlen, PhD, RN, FAAN Annette DeVito Dabbs, PhD, RN Kim Breneman, BSN, RN Christa Cook, BSN, RN The purpose of this study was to describe the utility of the Purpose-in-Life Test among persons with AIDS using both Part A (quantitative) and Part B (qualitative). A cross-sectional descriptive design was used with a sample of 74 persons with AIDS from community settings. The Purpose-in-Life Test and a sociodemographic questionnaire were admin- istered. Analytic methods included descriptive and inferential statistics and content analysis. Part A scores indicated that only one third of the partici- pants reported a definite purpose in life; however, results from Part B demonstrated that the majority of participants viewed their life as meaningful and dy- namic. Demographic characteristics such as race, income, and education were significantly related to purpose in life. Assessing purpose in life using both Part A and Part B of the Purpose-in-Life Test may assist nurses with a more in-depth understanding of purpose in life and assist persons with AIDS with identifying opportunities for personal growth. Key words: HIV, AIDS, purpose in life, Purpose- in-Life Test Although survival has been greatly enhanced with the advent of antiretroviral therapy, learning that one is diagnosed with AIDS continues to be a traumatic event. Researchers have shown that facing a trau- matic life event creates an opportunity for people to discover meaning and strength (Hall, 1998; Steeves & Kahn, 1987). A diagnosis of AIDS prompts indi- viduals to raise questions pertaining to the purpose and meaning of their lives and the nature of their suffering (Mellors, Erlen, Coontz, & Lucke, 2001; Schaefer & Coleman, 1992), and to make life adjust- ments to accept the uncertain long-term outcomes of their illness (Mellors et al., 2001). Background The work of Frankl (1963) provided the theoret- ical framework for this study. Frankl purports that the strongest motivation for living is the “will to meaning,” or the search to find meaning for human existence. Life never ceases to have meaning because individuals always have the opportunity to choose the manner in which they face adversity. Individuals with a strong sense of purpose in life have goals and a sense of direction, feel there is meaning to their lives, hold beliefs that give life purpose, and have aims and objectives for living. According to Frankl, an individual who fails to find meaning and purpose Mary Pat Lewis, PhD, RN, is associate professor and chair, Department of Nursing, State University of New York, College of Technology, Delhi, NY. Judith A. Erlen, PhD, RN, FAAN, is a professor; Annette DeVito Dabbs, PhD, RN, is an assistant professor; and Kim Breneman, BSN, RN, and Christa Cook, BSN, RN, are research as- sistants, all at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF NURSES IN AIDS CARE, Vol. 17, No. 1, January/February 2006, 51-59 doi:10.1016/j.jana.2005.11.005 Copyright © 2006 Association of Nurses in AIDS Care