Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Faculty Publications Article Faculty Publications -Articles Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource PP, Asha; Arur, Aditi Title A name given to the resource Meaning in life buffers mental health risks in South Indian transgender (Hijra) women Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 01-01-2026 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Mental Health and Social Inclusion;Volume;30;Issue;1;pp.57-71 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context <a href="https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-02-2025-0058" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-02-2025-0058</a> <br /><br /><a href="https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105005107018?origin=resultslist" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105005107018?origin=resultslist</a> Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant PP A., Department of Psychology, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India; Arur A., Department of Psychology, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India Description An account of the resource Purpose This study aims to investigate the mediating role of meaning in life (MIL) in the relationships among depression, anxiety, stress (DAS) and quality of life (QOL) among transgender (Hijra) women in South India. The concept of QOL extends beyond the absence of negative mental states such as DAS; it includes overall mental health, well-being and personal evaluations of life circumstances. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on a sample survey of 302 transgender women selected via convenience sampling from five states in South India. The MIL scale, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and QOL tools were culturally validated and tested, with reliability confirmed through a pilot study (n = 15). Correlation, regression and mediation analyses were conducted to explore the relationships. Findings A strong positive correlation between MIL and QOL was found. The DAS score has a significant negative correlation with QOL. The Presence of Meaning (PoM) subscale emerged as a crucial predictor for overall QOL, whereas the Search for Meaning (SoM) subscale showed predictive value for psychological health. MIL negatively mediates the relationship between DAS, and QOL, suggesting that it buffers mental health risks. Originality/value These findings reinforce the notion that meaning-making is an active life-affirming process, particularly for transgender women navigating adversity. The POM enriches the QOL and acts as a buffer against existential despair. This highlights the need for interventions that foster meaning-making as a pathway to resilience, emphasizing agency, authenticity and purpose pursuit in the face of existential anxiety. 2025 Emerald Publishing Limited Subject The topic of the resource Existentialism; Meaning in life (MIL); Mediation; Mental health; Quality of life (QOL); Transgender Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Emerald Publishing Relation A related resource ISSN: 20428316; Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Article Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource online