Logotyp: till Uppsala universitets webbplats

This thesis examines and presents a critical analysis of how societal institutions in Sweden use efforts to improve existential health as a tool to increase coping skills, resilience and meaning-making. The data set consisted of three webinars arranged within the concept “Meaning-making in our time”, with the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions as the coordinator and wherein examples of existential health efforts were shared. Primarily concerned questions were how the needs of meaning-making and existential health were described, how existential health was used as a tool and what consequences the efforts may cause on individual and societal level. The methodology used was qualitative thematic content analysis, and the theoretical framework was derived from an understanding of meaning-making, coping and resilience in a biopsychosocial-ecological system according to Pargament, Kleinman/DeMarinis, Bronfenbrenner and Ungar. The results of the inquiries show that the webinars picture a broad understanding of how existential health can contribute to coping and resilience, mainly on the individual level. Possible effects might be seen in healthcare and in an expanded common understanding of the existential questions as a part of human life, no matter if there is a religious belief or not. The systemic and interactional effects, and how resilience can be strengthened on a societal level, are less mentioned.