I do not expect much ikigai from work: A failed link between employment and well-being among adults with serious mental illness.

This study explores how people with serious mental illness in Japan perceive employment in relation to life's meaning and purpose, using the Japanese concept of ikigai, which encompasses life worth living and existential value. Through qualitative interviews with 21 psychiatric service users with employment history, the research identified diverse attitudes: some viewed employment as a source of ikigai when it aligned with personal values like mastery and societal contribution, while others saw work merely as a means to earn income, finding meaning instead in non-work activities. Regardless of these differences, participants generally regarded employment as indispensable for meeting basic needs and overcoming stigma associated with mental illness. The findings suggest that the varied personal significance of employment may explain its limited impact on well-being observed in prior studies and highlight the importance of tailoring vocational support to individual values and priorities.