Emerging Adulthood – an Easy Time of Being? Meaning in Life and Satisfaction with Life in the Time of Emerging Adulthood

Researchers in several academic disciplines have begun to take an interest in group character traits, including the character traits of religious congregations. This article reports the first empirical studies of congregational virtues. The Congregational Character Questionnaire was developed for measuring 12 different virtues of Christian churches: clinging to apostolic teaching, honoring teachers, prayerfulness, hopefulness, discipleship, emotional supportiveness, material supportiveness, spiritual equality, unity, submission, peace with the world, and spreading the faith. The instrument was then used with an online sample ( N = 530) to study how congregants’ perceptions of their congregation’s virtuousness related to congregants’ evaluations of their congregation, participation in their congregation, as well as congregants’ satisfaction with life, presence of meaning in life, and religious well-being. Results indicated that congregants’ overall perceptions of congregational virtuousness were significantly positively related to all of these dependent variables. These results help to reveal the important role that congregational character may play in the experience of congregants. Directions for future research in this area are outlined.

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An Examination of Meaning in Life, Satisfaction with Life, Self-Concept and Locus of Control among Teachers

Journal of Education and Training Studies ◽

10.11114/jets.v6i1.2773 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 21 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

İbrahim Taş ◽

Murat İskender

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

Locus Of Control ◽

Meaning In Life ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Self Concept ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

Control Scale ◽

Several Variables ◽

Life Scale

The aim of this study is to examine meaning in life, satisfaction with life, self-concept and locus of control among teachers by several variables. The research group was composed of 363 teachers (114 [40%] women, 219 [60%] men) working in several districts of İstanbul. The data were collected with Meaning in Life Scale (MLS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Social Comparison Scale (SCS), and Rotter’s Locus of Control Scale (RLCS). Pearson’s Correlation Analysis, Independent Samples T-Test and Mann Whitney-U and Kruskal-Wallis H test were utilized. A positive relationship was found between experienced meaning in life and satisfaction with life and self-concept while a negative relationship was found between experienced meaning in life and locus of control. Expected meaning in life, satisfaction with life and locus of control were found to differ by gender. It was also determined that expected meaning in life and self-concept differed by marital status.

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The impact of gratitude letters and visits on relationships, happiness, well-being, and meaning of graduate students

Journal of Positive School Psychology ◽

10.47602/jpsp.v5i2.256 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 110-126

Author(s):

David Stefan ◽

Erin Lefdahl-Davis ◽

Alexandra Alayan ◽

Matthew Decker ◽

Josie Wittwer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Graduate Students ◽

Meaning In Life ◽

Mixed Methods Research ◽

Positive Emotions ◽

Graduate Program ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

Life Questionnaire ◽

The Impact

In this mixed-methods research, we examined the practice of writing and delivering letters of gratitude (gratitude visits) and its impact on well-being, happiness, meaning and relationships for students in an online graduate program in psychology. Participants completed assessments and inventories relating to happiness, well-being and meaning in life, including the Satisfaction with Life Scale, Meaning in Life Questionnaire, Approaches to Happiness Questionnaire and open-ended qualitative questions before and after they wrote and delivered gratitude letters. Quantitative analyses found significant increases in meaning in life, satisfaction with life, and approaches to happiness after the gratitude visit intervention. Using a grounded theory qualitative analysis of the data, eight primary themes emerged related to the impact and meaning of gratitude letters on graduate students: (1) the impact on the relationship; (2) positive emotions experienced; (3) experiencing a reciprocal expression of gratitude from the receiver; (4) overcoming uncomfortable emotions; (5) relief, release or liberation after sharing; (6) impact on spiritual growth; (7) unexpected responses; and (8) greater reflection on the meaning of life and a changed perspective. Overall, providing graduate students with the opportunity to engage in gratitude visit interventions was related to greater meaning and well-being. This study suggests implications and recommendations related to the use of positive psychology interventions in educational settings.

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The Influence of Life-and-Death Views on the Well-Being of Chinese Tujia Ethnic Adolescents

OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying ◽

10.1177/0030222820961236 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 003022282096123

Author(s):

Ying Ge ◽

Jie Luo ◽

Jay L. Wenger ◽

Hai-yan Xiang

Keyword(s):

Meaning In Life ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

Life Questionnaire ◽

Future Directions ◽

Life And Death ◽

Life Scale ◽

Meaning In Life Questionnaire ◽

Different Cultures

The purpose of this study was to evaluate how a person’s view of life and death might influence various aspects of well-being. Similar studies have been conducted with adolescents in different cultures, but not with Chinese Tujia ethnic adolescents. Tujia adolescents ( N = 309) completed the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), the Death Attitude Profile (DAP), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the Happiness Inventory (HI). Results indicated that Chinese Tujia ethnic adolescents maintain a relatively positive life-and-death view and overall well-being. Meaning in life and death attitude both corresponded with overall well-being. A dominance analysis indicated that meaning in life can predict the well-being of a person better than a death attitude. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

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EFEK MEDIASI MAKNA HIDUP PADA HUBUNGAN ANTARA GRIT DAN KEPUASAN HIDUP PADA MAHASISWA

Jurnal Psikologi Ulayat ◽

10.24854/jpu02019-233 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Debora E Purba ◽

Krisna Wardhana Djaling

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

Meaning In Life ◽

Online Survey ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

Life Questionnaire ◽

Mediation Model ◽

Life Scale ◽

Meaning In Life Questionnaire ◽

The Relationship

Abstract – The current study aimed at examining the relationship between grit and life satisfaction through meaning in life. Data were taken using online survey from university students in Depok city (N = 505). Variables were measured using The Grit Scale, Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), and Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Data were analyzed using simple mediation model on Hayes PROCESS macro on SPSS program. Results showed that grit was positively and significantly related with life satisfaction and meaning in life, respectively, and meaning in life positively and significantly related with life satisfaction. Lastly, meaning in life partially mediated the relationship between grit and life satisfaction. Abstrak — Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan tujuan mengetahui peran mediasi makna hidup pada hubungan antara grit dengan kepuasan hidup. Data diambil menggunakan survei online pada mahasiswa perguruan tinggi di Kota Depok (N = 505). Pengukuran variabel pada penelitian ini dilakukan dengan menggunakan The Grit Scale, Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), dan Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Analisis data dilakukan menggunakan model mediasi pada makro PROCESS dari Hayes. Temuan pada penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa grit berpengaruh secara positif pada kepuasan hidup dan makna hidup, kemudian makna hidup berpengaruh secara positif pada kepuasan hidup. Terakhir, makna hidup secara parsial memediasi hubungan grit dan kepuasan hidup.

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Resiliency, Meaning in Life, and Life Satisfaction: An Examination of Moderating Effects [Resiliencia, significado en la vida y satisfacción vital: un análisis de los efectos moderadores]

Acción Psicológica ◽

10.5944/ap.15.2.22256 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 5

Author(s):

Chloe Lau Lau ◽

Anita Feher ◽

Claire Anne Wilson ◽

Sarah E. Babcock ◽

Donald H. Saklofske

Keyword(s):

Meaning In Life ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Positive Association ◽

Well Being ◽

Hierarchical Regression ◽

Moderating Effects ◽

Search For Meaning ◽

Moderating Role

While presence of meaning in life (i.e., presence) is associated with a plethora of desirable qualities (e.g., greater well-being, longevity, positive affect), search for meaning is associated with psychological distress (e.g., reports of conflict, rumination, depression; Boyle, Barnes, Buchman, & Bennett, 2009). Individuals with higher resiliency, defined as a multifaceted competency in adapting and recovering from adversity, could potentially mitigate the distress associated with search, and thus, achieve greater satisfaction with life (SWL). The present study examined the moderating role of meaning in life between resiliency (i.e., sense of mastery and sense of relatedness) and SWL in a sample of Canadian university students (N=289). Hierarchical regression analyses showed that there was a positive association between resiliency and SWL and this association was stronger at higher levels compared to lower levels of search for meaning. These results suggest that individuals searching for meaning with high levels of mastery have the greatest SWL, while their counterparts with low mastery have the lowest SWL. Similar moderating effects of search were found with the positive association between sense of relatedness and SWL. Overall, findings suggest that protective factors in resiliency may buffer against the potential negative impact of search.

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Hospice Care: Hope and Meaning in Life Mediate Subjective Well-Being of Staff

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine® ◽

10.1177/1049909120905261 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 37 (10) ◽

pp. 785-790 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Shimon Shiri ◽

Isaiah Wexler ◽

Anat Marmor ◽

Zeev Meiner ◽

Isabella Schwartz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Work Engagement ◽

Meaning In Life ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Hospice Care ◽

Care Center ◽

Well Being ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Care Workers ◽

High Level ◽

The Impact

Objectives: Subjective well-being has been associated with decreased work burnout and elevated work engagement. We investigated the impact of hope and meaning in life on subjective well-being among workers in a hospice care setting. Comparison was made to health-care workers in a rehabilitation unit. Methods: Thirty-five hospice care workers were surveyed and their responses compared with those of 36 rehabilitation workers. Survey instruments measuring hope, meaning in life, work engagement, and satisfaction with life were utilized. Results: Individuals working in a hospice care center have significantly higher levels of work engagement than their counterparts in rehabilitation. For both groups, hope was significantly related to subjective well-being. For hospice care but not rehabilitation workers, meaning in life was also related to subjective well-being. Multivariate analysis showed that hope and meaning in life were independent factors predicting subjective well-being in hospice care workers. Significance of Results: Hospice care workers are highly engaged in their work despite the challenging nature of their work. What characterizes these workers is a level of subjective well-being that is related to both meaning in life and hope. Maintaining a high level of subjective well-being may be an important factor in preventing burnout among those working in hospice care settings.

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How Search for Meaning Interacts with Complex Categories of Meaning in Life and Subjective Well-Being?

The Spanish Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1017/sjp.2015.1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bruno Figueiredo Damásio ◽

Sílvia Helena Koller

Keyword(s):

Meaning In Life ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Subjective Happiness ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Search For Meaning ◽

Moderation Effect ◽

Small Effect Size ◽

Crisis Of Meaning

AbstractThis study sought to assess how the search for meaning interacts with crisis of meaning and with different categories of meaning in life (meaningfulness, crisis of meaning, existential indifference, and existential conflict). Furthermore, the moderation role of search for meaning between the relation of categories of meaning and subjective well-being (SWB) was also evaluated. Participants included 3,034 subjects (63.9% women) ranging in age from 18 to 91 (M = 33.90; SD = 15.01) years old from 22 Brazilian states. Zero-order correlations and a factorial MANOVA were implemented. Positive low correlations were found for search for meaning and crisis of meaning (r = .258; p < .001). Search for meaning presented a small-effect size moderation effect on the relation of the different categories of meaning with subjective happiness, F(6, 3008) = 2.698, p < .05; η2 = .004, but not for satisfaction with life, F(6, 3008) = .935, p = .47; η2 = .002. The differences on the levels of subjective happiness of those inserted in existential indifferent and conflicting categories differ depending on the levels of search for meaning. Further directions for future studies are proposed.

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Wisdom and Meaning in Emerging Adulthood

Emerging Adulthood ◽

10.1177/2167696817707662 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 118-136 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Jeffrey Dean Webster ◽

Nic M. Weststrate ◽

Michel Ferrari ◽

Melanie Munroe ◽

Thomas W. Pierce

Keyword(s):

Emerging Adulthood ◽

Meaning In Life ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Meaning Making ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Self Report ◽

Autobiographical Memories ◽

Presence Of Meaning ◽

Self Development ◽

The Relationship

Wisdom and meaning are important developments in emerging adulthood. In two studies, we investigated the relationship between wisdom and meaning using self-report measures (Study 1; N = 298) and narrative coding (Study 2; N = 271). Study 1 supported the hypothesis that the search for and presence of meaning in life were both positively correlated with wisdom. The presence of meaning partially mediated the relationship between wisdom and positive self-characteristics (i.e., optimism and self-esteem). Study 2 extended these results by coding two styles of narrative meaning-making in autobiographical memories of stressful life events. As predicted, wisdom was positively associated with exploratory processing (i.e., deriving lessons and insights) in stressful memories but uncorrelated with redemptive processing (i.e., aimed at positive emotional transformation). Results suggest a possible pathway through which wisdom and meaning influence positive self-development and the importance of styles of narrative meaning-making that differentially predict wisdom.

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The association of mental health with positive behaviours, attitudes and virtues in community-dwelling older adults: Results of a population-based study

International Journal of Social Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0020764021999690 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 002076402199969

Author(s):

Eduardo Luiz Mendonça Martins ◽

Laís Cunha Salamene ◽

Alessandra Lamas Granero Lucchetti ◽

Giancarlo Lucchetti

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Meaning In Life ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Population Based ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Cognitive State ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Background: Despite major advancements in understanding of the factors associated with mental health in older adults, studies assessing positive behaviours, attitudes and virtues are still scarce in the literature. Aims: This study aims to investigate whether factors related to positive behaviours, attitudes and virtues are associated with mental health (i.e. depression, anxiety and stress) and satisfaction with life in Brazilian community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study of Brazilian older adults who were users of the public health system and seen by Family Health teams was conducted in 2017. Instruments were applied to assess cognition, physical activity, sleep, quality of life, social support, religiousness, spirituality, satisfaction with life, resilience, altruism, volunteerism, loneliness, meaning in life and mental health (i.e. depression, anxiety and stress). Analyses were carried out using linear and logistic regression models. Results: A total of 534 (93.5%) older adults were included. Positive behavioural factors and values including volunteerism, meaning in life, resilience, peace, loneliness, faith and religiousness were associated with mental health outcomes (i.e. depression, anxiety and stress), as were traditional factors, such as sleep, gender, social support and cognitive state. Conclusions: Aspects related to positive behaviour, attitudes and virtues can impact the mental health of the older population. These results can serve to alert health professionals on the importance of addressing these factors and help guide the implementation of preventive measures and interventions for this age group.

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