Publications

Monographs, journal articles, edited books and book chapters

Schnell, T. (2025, forthcoming). The psychology of meaning in life. 2nd, revised edition. Routledge.

Schnell, T. (2025, forthcoming). Psychologie des Lebenssinns. 3rd, revised edition. SpringerNature.

Danbolt, L., Schnell, T., Stålsett, G., & la Cour, P. (2025, forthcoming). Understanding existential health for dementia care. Routledge.

Schnell, T. (2025, forthcoming). Dementia and an Existential Challenge: Acknowledging the Paradox of Suffering and Meaning. In L. Danbolt, T. Schnell, G. Stålsett, P. la Cour (Eds.), Understanding existential health for dementia care (pp. XX). Routledge.

Schnell, T. & Henriksen, J.-O. (2025). Search for meaning in the anthropocene: a dialogue between Psychology and Theology. Dialog. https://doi.org/10.1111/dial.12873

Schnell, T. & Trotier, K. (2024). Sinn finden. Warum es gut ist, das Leben zu hinterfragen. Ullstein.

Kosic, A., Passafaro, P., Schnell, T., Molinari, M. (2024). Meaning in life and care for the environment: bridging the actions for addressing ecological issues and enhancing residential quality. Ecopsychology. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2024.0003

Ishak, B., Bjertnes, E., Østby, L., Johannessen, A., & Schnell, T. (2024). Is the degree of religiosity related to community belonging and trust in society? A cross-sectional study among Muslims in Norway. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 10, 101065. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2024.101065

Schnell, T., Viviani, R., Lenz, C., & Krampe, H. (2024). When alienated from society, conspiracy theory belief gives meaning to life. Heliyon, 10(14), 334557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34557

Sørensen, V. H., Andersen A. H., Andersen, T., Rasmussen, A., Aagesen, M., Schnell, T., Pedersen, H. F., la Cour, P., & Rottman, N. (2024). Meaning in life after cancer: validation of the Sources of Meaning Card Method among participants in cancer rehabilitation. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjop.13048

Urata, Y., Shimai, S., & Schnell, T. (2024). The Development and Validation of the Japanese Version of a Modular Meaning in Work Inventory (ME-Work). The Japanese Journal of Personality, 32(3), 134-137. https://doi.org/10.2132/personality.32.3.6

Vötter, B., & Schnell, T. (2024). Life Meaning Versus Intelligence: An Analysis of Three Qualities of Meaning Among Gifted Adults. In Logotherapy and Existential Analysis (pp. 241-258). Springer International Publishing.

Schnell, T., & Danbolt, L. J. (2023). The Meaning and Purpose Scales (MAPS): development and multi-study validation of short measures of meaningfulness, crisis of meaning, and sources of purpose. BMC Psychology, 11(1), 304. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01319-8

Austad, A., Cheyeka, A. M., Danbolt, L. J., Kamanga, G., Mwale, N., Stifoss-Hanssen, H., Sørensen, T., & Schnell, T. (2023). Experiences of meaning in life in urban and rural Zambia. Archive for the Psychology of Religion, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/00846724231175186

Haver, A., Krampe, H., Danbolt, L. J., Stålsett, G., & Schnell, T. (2023). Emotion regulation moderates the association between COVID-19 stress and mental distress: findings on buffering, exacerbation, and gender differences in a cross-sectional study from Norway. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1121986. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1121986

Spitzenstätter, D. & Schnell, T. (2023). The Uncertain Certainty: A Mixed Methods Exploration of Personal Meanings of Death and Preliminary Insights Into Their Relationship With Worldview, Omega - Journal of Death and Dying. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228231157135

Schnell, T., de Boer, E., & Alma, H. (2023). Worlds apart? Atheist, agnostic, and humanist worldviews in three European countries. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 15(1), 83–93. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000446

Shimai, S., Urata, Y., Yamamoto, J., & Schnell, T. (2022). ME-Work Japanese version: Development of a modular meaning in work inventory (1)モジュール式仕事の意味尺度ME-Work日本版の開発（１): Score distributions, factor validity, internal consistency, and relationship of modular scores得点分布、因子的妥性、内的一貫性、モジュール得点間の関連. The Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the Japanese Psychological Association, 86:2AM-083-PQ, https://doi.org/10.4992/pacjpa.86.0_2AM-083-PQ

Urata, Y., Shimai, S., Yamamoto, J., & Schnell, T. (2022). ME-Work Japanese version: Development of a modular meaning in work inventory (2)モジュール式仕事の意味尺度ME-Work日本版の開発（2: Study of factors related to meaning in work仕事の意味に関連する要因の検討. The Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the Japanese Psychological Association, 86:2AM-084-PQ, https://doi.org/10.4992/pacjpa.86.0_2AM-084-PQ

Kreiss, C. & Schnell, T. (2022). Have a good day! An experience-sampling study of daily meaningful and pleasant activities. Frontiers in Psychology, 13:977687. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.977687

Schnell, T. & Hoffmann, C. (2022). Die helle und die dunkle Seite von Sinn im Beruf. Wirtschaftspsychologie aktuell, 3, 38-42.

Schnell, T. & Hoffmann, C. (2022). Sinn im Beruf erfassen mit dem ME-Work-Inventar. Wirtschaftspsychologie aktuell Magazin, 21. September 2022.

Spitzenstätter, D., & Schnell, T. (2022). The existential dimension of the pandemic: Death attitudes, personal worldview, and coronavirus anxiety. Death Studies, 46(5), 1031-1041, https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2020.1848944

Schnell, T. (2022). Suffering as meaningful choice. An existential approach. In A. Austad & L. J. Danbolt (Eds.), Ta vare. En bok om diakoni, sjelesorg og eksistensiell helse (p. 3-14). VID.

Böhmer, M., la Cour, P., & Schnell, T. (2022). A randomized controlled trial of the Sources of Meaning Card Method: a new meaning-oriented approach predicts depression, anxiety, pain acceptance, and crisis of meaning in chronic pain patients. Pain Medicine, 23(2), 314-325. https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnab321

Schnell, T., & Krampe, H. (2022). Meaningfulness protects from and crisis of meaning exacerbates general mental distress longitudinally. BMC Psychiatry, 22(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-022-03921-3

Antonic, B. & Schnell, T. (2022). Die Frage nach dem Sinn. Streitgespräch: Wieviel "Purpose" braucht die Arbeitswelt? Arbeit und Arbeitsrecht, 5(22), 40-43.

Spitzenstätter, D., & Schnell, T. (2022). Effects of mortality awareness on attitudes toward dying and death and meaning in life—a randomized controlled trial. Death Studies, 46(5), 1219-1233, https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2020.1808737

Tommasi, F., Sartori R., Ceschi, A., & Schnell, T. (2021). The Meaning in Work Inventory: validation of the Italian version and its association with sociodemographic variables. BPA-Applied Psychology Bulletin (Bollettino di Psicologia Applicata), 69(291), 17-36.

Schnell, T., Spitzenstätter, D., & Krampe, H. (2021). Compliance With Covid-19 Public Health Guidelines: An Attitude-Behaviour Gap Bridged by Personal Concern and Distance to Conspiracy Ideation. Psychology & Health, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2021.1974861

Krampe, H., Danbolt, L. J., Haver, A., Stålsett, G., & Schnell, T. (2021). Locus of control moderates the association of COVID-19 stress and general mental distress: results of a Norwegian and a German-speaking cross-sectional survey. BMC Psychiatry 21, 437 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03479-1

Schnell, T. (2021). The psychology of meaning in life. Routledge, Taylor & Francis.

Schnell, T., & Hoffmann, C. (2020). ME-Work: development and validation of a modular meaning in work inventory. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 599913. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.599913

Krampe, H., Goerling, U., Spies, C., Gerhard, S., Enge, S., Salz, A.-L., Kerper, L. F., & Schnell, T. (2020). Sense of coherence, mental well-being and perceived preoperative hospital and surgery related stress in surgical patients with malignant, benign, and no neoplasms. BMC Psychiatry, 20, 567. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02953-x

Schnell, T. (2020). Psychologie des Lebenssinns. 2., überarbeitete Neuauflage. SpringerNature.

Schnell, T. (2020). Spirituality. In V. Zeigler-Hill & T. Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer.

Schnell, T., & Krampe, H. (2020). Meaning in life and self-control buffer stress in times of COVID-19: moderating and mediating effects with regard to mental distress. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 582352. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.582352

Schnell, T. (2020). Sinnerleben und Wohlergehen in Zeiten von Covid-19. In P. Assmann, A. Flögel, & R. Sila (Eds.), Wissenschaftliches Jahrbuch der Tiroler Landesmuseen 2020 (pp. 31-35). StudienVerlag.

Schnell, T., Fuchs, D., & Hefti, R. (2020). Worldview under stress: preliminary findings on cardiovascular and cortisol stress responses predicted by secularity, religiosity, spirituality, and existential search. Journal of Religion and Health, 59(6), 2969-2989. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-020-01008-5

La Cour, P., & Schnell, T. (2020). Presentation of the Sources of Meaning Card Method: the SoMeCaM. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 60(1), 20-42. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167816669620

Schnell, T. (2019). Einlassen, Zulassen, Loslassen: Über ein konstruktives Leidensverständnis. Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift, 144, 1803-1809. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1030-3066

Schnell, T. (2019). Glücksversprechen? Die Selbstdarstellung diakonischer Sozialunternehmen aus Perspektive der Sinn- und Glücksvorstellung. In C. Albrecht (Ed.), Glück in der Diakonie (pp. 17-34). Mohr Siebeck.

La Cour, P., & Schnell, T. (2019). Die LeBe-Kartenmethode. Studia.

La Cour, P., & Schnell, T. (2019). Sources of Meaning - Card Method. Studia.

La Cour, P., & Schnell, T. (2019). Kilder til mening - kortmetoden. Studia.

Schnell, T. (2019). Von Sinn und Gesundheit. Report Psychologie, 44(11), 6-8.

Viviani, R., Dommes, L., Bosch, J., Beschoner, P., Stingl, J. C., & Schnell, T. (2019). Choosing between personal values: The Pavlovian substrates of intrinsic preferences. bioRxiv, 856294. https://doi.org/10.1101/856294

Vötter, B., & Schnell, T. (2019). Bringing giftedness to bear: generativity, meaningfulness, and self-control as resources for a happy life among gifted adults. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, Article 1972. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01972

Schnell, T. (2019). Säulen des Humanismus in der Studie zu Konfessionsfreien Identitäten. In R. Schöppner (Ed.), Humanistische Identität heute. Universalismus und Identitätspolitik (pp. 167-182). Alibri.

Sørensen, T., Stifoss-Hansen, H., Lien, L., Pedersen, H. F., la Cour, P., DeMarinis, V., Danbolt, L. J., & Schnell, T. (2019). The Sources of Meaning and Meaning in Life Questionnaire (SoMe) in the Norwegian context: Relations to mental health, quality of life and self-efficacy. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 29(1), 32-45. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508619.2018.1547614

Schnell, T., Höge, T., & Weber, W. G. (2019). 'Belonging' and its relationship to the experience of meaningful work. In R. Yeoman, K. Bailey, A. Madden, & M. Thompson (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Meaningful Work (pp. 165-185). Oxford University Press.

Vötter, B., & Schnell, T. (2019). Cross-lagged analyses between life meaning, self-compassion, and subjective well-being among gifted adults. Mindfulness, 10(7), 1294-1303. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-018-1078-x

Schnell, T. (2018). Von Lebenssinn und Sinn in der Arbeit. Warum es sich bei beruflicher Sinnerfüllung nicht um ein nettes Extra handelt. In Fehlzeiten-Report 2018 (pp. 11-21). Springer.

Frølund Pedersen, H., Handegard Birkeland, M., Søndergaard Jensen, J., Schnell, T., Hvidt, N. C., Sørensen, T., & la Cour, P. (2018). What brings meaning to life in a highly secular society? A study on sources of meaning among Danes. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 59(6), 678-690. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjop.12495

Schnell, T., Gerstner, R., & Krampe, H. (2018). Crisis of meaning predicts suicidality in youth independently of depression. Crisis - The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 39, 294-303. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000503

Krampe, H., Barth-Zoubari, A., Schnell, T., Salz, A.-L., Kerper, L. F., & Spies, C. D. (2018). Social relationship factors, preoperative depression, and hospital length of stay in surgical patients. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 25(6), 658-668.

Schnell, T. (2018). Einlassen, Zulassen, Loslassen. Über ein konstruktives Leidensverständnis. Zeitschrift für Palliativmedizin, 19, 249-255. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0640-8227

Schnell, T., & La Cour, P. (2018). Von der Tiefe im Leben sprechen. Erkenntnisse der empirischen Sinnforschung und Exploration von Lebensbedeutungen mit der LeBe-Kartenmethode. Wege zum Menschen, 70(1), 33-47. https://doi.org/10.13109/weme.2018.70.1.33

Pollet, E., & Schnell, T. (2017). Brilliant: but what for? Meaning and subjective well-being in the lives of intellectually gifted and academically high-achieving adults. Journal of Happiness Studies, 18(5), 1459-1484. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-016-9783-4

Krampe, H., Salz, A. L., Kerper, L. F., Krannich, A., Schnell, T., Wernecke, K. D., & Spies, C. D. (2017). Readiness to change and therapy outcomes of an innovative psychotherapy program for surgical patients: results from a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry, 17(1), 417. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1579-5

Schnell, T. (2017). Spuren hinterlassen - Sinn entsteht (auch) im Tun für andere. In Mut zum Miteinander. Vom Wert der Zugehörigkeit. Tagungsband 36. Goldegger Dialoge (pp. 61-73). Kulturverein Schloss Goldegg.

Vötter, B., Böhmer, M., Georgi, M., Spitzenstätter, D., Geisler, S., Fuchs, D., & Schnell, T. (2017). Amino acid and worldview: phenylalanine, sports, and crisis of meaning. Pteridines, 28(1), 57.

Schnell, T. (2016). Die Arbeit und wir - eine Beziehungsanalyse. Sucht, 99, 8-9.

Schnell, T. (2016). Psychologie des Lebenssinns. Springer.

Schnell, T. (2015). Sinnerleben bei Hochbegabung. News&Science, 40(2), 40-42.

Schnell, T., & Krampe, H. (2015). Alcohol, drugs, and smoking amongst future psychologists: differential contributions of big five personality traits, sources of meaning, and self-efficacy. Clinical Health Promotion, 5(2), 35-42. https://doi.org/10.29102/clinhp.15006

Schnell, T. (2015). Mening og livsbetyding: Tilgang til en eksistensielt orientert sjelesorg og radgiving. Tidsskrift for Sjelesorg, 2, 151-172.

Schnell, T. (2015). Dimensions of Secularity (DoS): an open inventory to measure facets of secular identities. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 25(4), 272-292. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508619.2014.967541

Schnell, T., Höge, T., & Pollet, E. (2014). Predicting meaning in work: theory, data, implications. In D. A. Leontiev (Ed.), Positive Psychology in Search for Meaning. Routledge.

Schnell, T. (2014). An empirical approach to existential psychology: meaning in life operationalized. In S. Kreitler & T. Urbanek (Eds.), Conceptions of Meaning (pp. 173-194). Nova Science.

Damásio, B. F., Koller, S. H., & Schnell, T. (2013). Sources of Meaning and Meaning in Life questionnaire (SoMe): Psychometric properties and sociodemographic findings in a large Brazilian sample. Acta de Investigación Psicológica, 3(3), 1205-1227. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2007-4719(13)70961-X

Schnell, T. (2013). Mehr als angenehm - über Partizipation und Sinnerleben. In Th. Köhler & Ch. Mertens (Hrsg.), Jahrbuch für Politische Beratung 2012/2013 (S. 39-49). Böhlau Verlag.

Schnell, T., & Pali, S. (2013). Pilgrimage today: The meaning-making potential of ritual. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 16(9), 887-902. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2013.766449

Schnell, T., Hoege, Th., & Pollet, E. (2013). Predicting meaning in work: Theory, data, implications. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 8(6), 543-554. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2013.830763

Schnell, T., & Keenan, W. J. F. (2013). The construction of atheist spirituality: A survey-based study. In H. Westerink (Ed.), Constructs of Meaning and Religious Transformation (pp. 101-118). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht unipress.

Schnell, T. (2012). An Existential Turn in Psychology - Meaning in Life Operationalized. Innsbruck University: Habilitation.

Schnell, T. (2012). On method: A foundation for empirical research on implicit religion. Implicit Religion, 15(4), 407-422. https://doi.org/10.1558/imre.v15i4.407

Schnell, T. (2012). Spirituality with and without religion: Differential relationships with personality. Archive for the Psychology of Religion, 34, 33-61. https://doi.org/10.1163/157361212X644495

Schnell, T. (2012). „Für meine Freunde könnte ich sterben“ – Implizite Religiosität und die Sehnsucht nach Transzendenz. In U. Kropac, U. Meier & K. König (Hrsg.), Jugend - Religion - Religiosität. Resultate, Probleme und Perspektiven der aktuellen Religiositätsforschung (S. 87-108). Pustet.

Höge, T. & Schnell, T. (2012). Kein Arbeitsengagement ohne Sinnerfüllung. Eine Studie zum Zusammenhang von Work Engagement, Sinnerfüllung und Tätigkeitsmerkmalen. Wirtschaftspsychologie, 1, 91-99.

Schnell, T. & Hoof, M. (2012). Meaningful commitment: Finding meaning in volunteer work. Journal of Beliefs & Values, 33(1), 35-53. https://doi.org/10.1080/13617672.2012.650029

Keenan, W. J. F. & Schnell, T. (2012). The resilient academy: A transdisciplinary critique of the realworldist university. In Å. Aamaas, W. J. F. Keenan, L. v.d. Zijden & C. Sedmak (Eds.), Resilience and Unemployment (pp. 19-42). Lit.

Schnell, T. (2011). Experiential validity: Psychological approaches to the sacred. Position Paper. Implicit Religion, Special Issue 'Implicit Religion and Psychology: Connections,' 14 (4), 387-404. https://doi.org/10.1558/imre.v14i4.387

Schnell, T. (2011). Individual differences in meaning-making: Considering the variety of sources of meaning, their density and diversity. Personality and Individual Differences, 51(5), 667-673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.06.006

Schnell, T. (2011). Editorial: Report from the XXXIV Denton Conference on the Study of Implicit Religion. Implicit Religion, 14(2), 127-128.

Schnell, T. (2011). Religiosität und Spiritualität als Quellen der Sinnerfüllung. In C. Klein, H. Berth & F. Balck (Hrsg.), Gesundheit - Religion - Spiritualität. Konzepte, Befunde und Erklärungsansätze (S. 259-271). Juventa Verlag.

Schnell, T. & Keenan, W. J. F. (2011). Meaning-making in an atheist world. Archive for the Psychology of Religion, 33(1), 55-78. https://doi.org/10.1163/157361211X564611

Schnell, T. (2010). SOS Abendland? Muslimischer Glaube und Integration. Internationale Zeitschrift für Sozialpsychologie und Gruppendynamik in Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft, 35(2), 3-17.

Schnell, T. (2010). Existential indifference: Another quality of meaning in life. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 50(3), 351-373. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167809360259

Schnell, T. (2009). The Sources of Meaning and Meaning in Life questionnaire (SoMe): Relations to demographics and well-being. Journal of Positive Psychology, 4(6), 483-499. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760903271074

Hoof, M. & Schnell, T. (2009). Sinn-volles Engagement. Zur Sinnfindung im Kontext der Freiwilligenarbeit. Wege zum Menschen, 61, 405-422.

Schnell, T. (2009). Implizite Religiosität - Zur Psychologie des Lebenssinns. Pabst. 2., Überarbeitete Neuauflage.

Schnell, T. (2009). Glaube ist keine Integrationsbarriere. Stimme von und für Minderheiten, 73, Winter 2009.

Engelhardt, A. & Schnell, T. (2009). Behinderung und Lebenssinn. Behinderte Menschen, 2/3, 8-10.

Engelhardt, A., & Schnell, T. (2008). Behinderung und Lebenssinn: Gibt es einen Zusammenhang zwischen der Behinderung eines Menschen und den Lebensbedeutungen seiner Geschwister? Leben Lachen Lernen, 36, 28-30.

Schnell, T. (2008). Implizite Religiosität. Vielfalt von Lebensbedeutungen in religiösen Ausdrucksformen. In W. Gräb & L. Charbonnier (Hrsg.), Individualisierung - Spiritualität - Religion: Transformationsprozesse auf dem religiösen Feld in interdisziplinärer Perspektive (Bd. 1 der Reihe "Studien zu Religion und Kultur") (S. 83-107). LIT-Verlag.

Schnell, T. (2008). Deutsche in der Sinnkrise? Ein Einblick in die Sinnforschung mit Daten einer repräsentativen Stichprobe. Journal für Psychologie, 16(3), Article 09.

Schnell, T. (2008). Religiosität und Identität. In R. Bernhardt & P. Schmidt-Leukel (Hrsg.), Multiple religiöse Identität. Aus verschiedenen religiösen Traditionen schöpfen (S. 163-183). Theologischer Verlag.

Schnell, T. & Becker, P. (2007). Der Fragebogen zu Lebensbedeutungen und Lebenssinn (LeBe). Hogrefe.

Schnell, T. & Becker, P. (2006). Personality and meaning in life. Personality and Individual Differences, 41(1), 117-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2005.11.030

Gollwitzer, M., Gläßer, E., Kranz, D., Schlotz, W., Schnell, T. & Voss, A. (2005). Das Trierer Inventar zur Lehrevaluation (TRIL). Überarbeitet zu TRIL-MOD.

Schnell, T. (2004). Implizite Religiosität - Zur Psychologie des Lebenssinns. Pabst.

Schnell, T. (2004). Wege zum Sinn. Sinnfindung mit und ohne Religion - Empirische Psychologie der Impliziten Religiosität. Wege zum Menschen, 56, 3-20.

Schnell, T. (2003). A framework for the study of implicit religion: The psychological theory of implicit religiosity. Implicit Religion, 6(2-3), 86-104. https://doi.org/10.1558/imre.v6i2.86

Becker, P. & Schnell, T. (2002). Interaktions-Angst-Fragebogen (IAF). In J. Hoyer & J. Margraf (Hrsg.), Angstdiagnostik - Grundlagen und Testverfahren (S. 142-146). Springer.

Schnell, T. (2000). I believe in love. Implicit Religion, 3(2), 111-122. https://doi.org/10.1558/imre.v3i2.111

Schnell, T. (1999). Report: The centrality of the concepts of implicit religion for teaching religious studies. Implicit Religion, 2(2), 115-116.