scholarly journals Meaning in life and its significance in emerging adulthood - literature review and preliminary study results

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 346-362
Author(s):  
Natalia Czyżowska
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Presence Of Meaning ◽  
Study Results

Transition from adolescence to adulthood and the challenges it entails are often accompanied by a feeling of anxiety and confusion. As research has shown, emerging adults may be particularly vulnerable to various mental disorders. Meaning in life is one of the protective factors that is of great importance both for the mental health and well-being of an individual. The issue of the sense of meaning in life is particularly important in emerging adulthood, as searching for meaning in life may be treated as one of the developmental tasks of this period. The aim of the article is both to review the literature on meaning in life, with particular emphasis on its two dimensions: presence of and search for, and to present the preliminary results of research. The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between the sense of meaning in life, perceived stress and mental health among emerging adults in Poland. 120 emerging adults (between 18 and 29 years of age) participated in the study. Participants completed three questionnaires: the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). There was a negative relationship between presence of meaning in life and somatic and depressive symptoms and perceived stress. Among emerging adults, the search for meaning in life was significantly higher than the presence of meaning. The role of the search for meaning in the period of emerging adulthood as well as further research directions are discussed.

scholarly journals Structure and Levels of Meaning in Life and Its Relationship With Mental Health in Chinese Students Aged 10 to 25

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wang Xin-qiang ◽  
He Xiao-xin ◽  
Yang Fan ◽  
Zhang Da-jun
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Early Adolescence ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Chinese Students ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Presence Of Meaning ◽  
Middle Adolescence ◽  
Meaning In Life Questionnaire

This study examines the usage of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire in Chinese students aged from 10 to 25 within four age groups (N= 5,510): early adolescence (10–13 years old,n= 1,258), middle adolescence (14–17 years old,n= 1,987), late adolescence (18–21 years old,n= 1,950) and early adulthood (22–25 years old,n= 315); and analyses the structure and levels of meaning in life, as well as the relationship between meaning in life and mental health. Results showed that: (1) the Meaning in Life Questionnaire in the four age groups of Chinese students had good construct validity and internal consistency reliability; (2) the average levels of the presence of meaning and search for meaning of Chinese students were moderate or above, and had obvious differences according to gender and family location (i.e., urban vs. rural); (3) the level of presence of meaning showed a trend of rising rapidly in middle adolescence and the level of search for meaning continued to rise in early adolescence and fell rapidly towards the end of adolescence; (4) presence of meaning was positively related to life satisfaction and positive affect and negatively related to depression and negative affect, and the same correlations were found with search for meaning.

Meaning in life and resilience among teachers

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-109
Author(s):  
Maria Platsidou ◽  
Athena Daniilidou
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factors ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Social Resilience ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Emotional Resilience ◽  
Presence Of Meaning ◽  
Resilience Process ◽  
Resilience Factors

Meaning in life is a significant resource in the resilience process, supporting the use of adaptive behaviors and enhancing the feeling of wellbeing. As such, it could be critical for teachers who encounter many stressors threatening their life quality and work productivity. This study aimed to investigate how teachers' levels of meaning in life relate to their resilience. Data were collected from 299 teachers using the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (assessing presence of and search for meaning) and the Multidimensional Teacher Resilience Scale (assessing protective factors related to motivational and professional, social, and emotional resilience). As predicted, presence of meaning had medium-sized positive correlations with the resilience factors, whereas search for meaning had low correlations with social resilience and professional-motivational resilience and no correlation with emotional resilience. Using K-means cluster analysis, teachers were grouped into three clusters according to their scores in the two meaning dimensions. The cluster of teachers reporting both high presence of and high search for meaning showed the highest scores on the resilience factors, followed by the cluster including teachers with high presence and low search. In conclusion, our results emphasized the important role of presence of meaning in strengthening resilient responses; also, searching for meaning, when combined with a high sense of meaning, relates to better use of the resilience protective factors and resources. As to the study implications, a meaning-centered approach to building resilience in teachers is suggested and discussed.

scholarly journals Predicting Role of Resilience and Meaning in Life in Perceived Stress of Frontline Health Care Workers during COVID-19 Outbreak

2022 ◽  
pp. 24-28
Author(s):  
Seyedehsareh Hashemikamangar ◽  
◽  
Afrooz Afshari
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Presence Of Meaning ◽  
Predictive Variables ◽  
Final Study ◽  
Care Workers

This paper investigates the predicting role of resilience and meaning in life on perceived stress of frontline health care workers treating patients with COVID-19. To measure the variables, a set of online questionnaires including Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSS), Meaning of Life Questionnaire (MLQ), and Resilience Questionnaire (CD_RISC) was prepared. Presence of meaning, search for meaning, notion of personal competence, tolerance and trust in intuition, acceptance and secure relationships, control, and spiritual influences were examined as predictors of perceived stress. Several frontline health care workers were included in the final study. To analyze the data, regression analysis method was used with SPSS-20 software. The results showed that: 1) the regression model of resilience and the presence of meaning in the life of health care workers on their perceived stress was significant (F (6,229)=45.14, p<0.0001); 2) the predictive variables, in total, could explain 53% of the variance of perceived stress; 3) perceived stress correlated negatively with presence of meaning (β = −0.380, p<0.05), with acceptance and secure relationships (β = −0.620, p< 0.05), with control (β = −0.609, p<0.05), and positively correlated with spiritual influences (β = 0.465, p<0.05). Finding and maintaining meaning in life and improving acceptance, secure relationships, and sense of control would reduce perceived stress of frontline health care workers.

scholarly journals The Psychometric Properties of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) in Patients with Life-Threatening Illnesses

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Maede Naghiyaee ◽  
Bahman Bahmani ◽  
Ali Asgari
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Confirmatory Factor Analysis ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Presence Of Meaning ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Meaning In Life Questionnaire

Background. Meaning in life is one of the psychological domains that is most severely affected in patients with life-threatening illnesses. The importance of meaning-making mandates the development of reliable tools to assess this construct. Steger’s Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) is one of the most valid and reliable instruments that determines the search for and presence of meaning in life. The present study was conducted to provide psychometric data on the MLQ in a sample of patients with life-threatening illnesses. Methods. The MLQ was completed by 301 patients (aged 20–80 years) diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses (cancer and multiple sclerosis) and referred to hospitals. Confirmatory factor analysis and Pearson’s correlation test were used to determine the construct validity of the questionnaire. Results. The confirmatory factor analysis supported the original two-factor model of the MLQ, comprised of the presence of meaning (five items) and search for meaning (five items). The responses to the MLQ did not differ by sociodemographic factors. Most importantly, contrary to previous findings, the correlation between the two subscales, i.e., search for meaning and presence of meaning, was significant and positive. Conclusion. The results showed that the MLQ is a valid and reliable measure for assessing meaning in life that can be applied in research on meaning in life among other patient populations.

scholarly journals DUAL IMPACTS ON MEANING IN LIFE IN OLDER PERSONS VOLUNTEERING FOR ELDERLY MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S979-S980
Author(s):  
Dara K Y Leung ◽  
Joyce Sing ◽  
Lesley Sze ◽  
Jessica Tang ◽  
Shiyu Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Formal Volunteering ◽  
Presence Of Meaning ◽  
Before And After

Abstract Volunteering provides sense of meaning in life. The impact of volunteering on different dimensions of meaning in life and the mechanisms explaining the effects have been rarely researched. This study examined the effects and the mechanism of a formal volunteering program for mental health in older persons, including training, service provision, and supervision, on two dimensions of meaning in life — presence of meaning and searching for meaning — among senior volunteers. A mixed method study was conducted. 103 volunteers (average age=63.3±6.6) completed assessments at three time points: before and after the training, and one-year after service provision. They self-assessed Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) and reported time use in different tasks. 26 of them participated in focus groups discussing their experience in the program. Volunteers’ search for meaning differed between time points (F(1.87,173.81)=3.20, p&lt;.01) while presence of meaning persisted. Search for meaning reduced from before the training to after service provision (p&lt;.05) as revealed by post-hoc tests. Proportion of home visit during service provision explained 2.7% of the variance of presence of meaning before and after service provision (R2=0.05, F(6,74)=1.376, p&lt;.05). Findings from focus groups revealed that application of trained skills and building trusting relationship with their clients via home visits are sources of meaning. Formal volunteering may have dual impacts on meaning in life in older age: reducing search for meaning and maintaining presence of meaning. For senior volunteers, being able to apply what they learn and building social connects are the key factors for attaining meaning.

Presence of Meaning in Life and Search for Meaning in Life and Relationship to Health Anxiety

2017 ◽  
Vol 120 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Hwei Yek ◽  
Nik Olendzki ◽  
Zoltan Kekecs ◽  
Vicki Patterson ◽  
Gary Elkins
Keyword(s):  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Health Anxiety ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Presence Of Meaning ◽  
Lower Health ◽  
Meaning In Life Questionnaire

The present study explored presence of meaning in life, search for meaning in life, and their correlation with health anxiety. The Meaning in Life Questionnaire and the Short Health Anxiety Inventory were completed by 753 individuals. Results indicated higher presence of meaning in life was associated with lower health anxiety, while the opposite was observed for search for meaning in life. Results also revealed an interaction between presence of meaning in life and search for meaning in life, where individuals with high search for meaning in life and high presence of meaning in life had lower health anxiety than those with high search for meaning in life and low presence of meaning in life. These findings suggest that presence of meaning in life and search for meaning in life are correlates of health anxiety.

scholarly journals Can Supportive Siblings Protect against the Risk that Stress from Feelings of Alienation with Parents and Peers Poses to Mental Health in Emerging Adulthood?

2021 ◽  
pp. 0192513X2199385
Author(s):  
Muna Osman ◽  
Dave Miranda
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Moderated Mediation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Moderated Mediation Model ◽  
Two Samples

Feelings of alienation with parents and peers can lead to psychological distress, possibly because such feelings are stressful. Supportive siblings are known to foster mental health in youth, but research in emerging adulthood is limited. We hypothesized supportive sibling climate as a protective factor in the risks that stress from parent and peer alienation poses to psychological distress among emerging adults. A proposed moderated-mediation model was tested, across three samples, using latent moderated mediation structural equation modeling. Results indicated that parental and peer alienation were associated with more psychological distress, and stress partially mediated the link between parental (but not peer) alienation and psychological distress in two samples. However, a supportive sibling climate was not protective as it did not moderate the links among alienation, stress, and psychological distress. In sum, siblings seem beneficial, but perhaps it is not sufficient to protect emerging adults’ mental health against stress from parent and peer alienation.

scholarly journals Meaning of Life and Well-Being: Preliminary Results of the Successful Aging Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 112-112
Author(s):  
Zvi Gellis ◽  
Kim McClive-Reed ◽  
Bonnie Kenaley ◽  
Eunhae Kim
Keyword(s):  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Presence Of Meaning ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Proxy Measure ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Meaning in life for older persons has become a focal research point, with findings that a greater sense of meaning is associated with better outcomes on a range of health and well-being factors. Our study examined relationships between scores on several personality scales, including the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (Steger et al., 2009) and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index, a proxy measure of mood/depression. Community-dwelling members (N=535) of Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes aged 50 and up (mean age 71.4, SD = 6.93) at 3 U.S. sites completed surveys. Higher wellness levels were significantly correlated with increased resilience, optimism, life satisfaction, and presence of meaning in life, while lower levels were associated with greater searching for meaning in life. A multivariate linear regression model (F = 55.597, df = 4, p = .000, R = .566, R2 = .320) showed that wellness scores increased with higher scores in optimism (ß = .348, p =.000), resilience (ß = .183, p = .000), and presence of meaning in life (ß = .106, p = .019). However, searching for meaning in life significantly predicted decreases in wellness scores (ß = -.084, p=.019). These results support those of previous studies, suggesting that for older persons, an ongoing search for meaning in life is linked to negative outcomes than a perception of existing meaning in life. A variety of available interventions aimed at increasing meaning and purpose in life (Guerrero-Torelles et al., 2017) may contribute to better health and well-being in older adults.

scholarly journals How Does Search for Meaning Lead to Presence of Meaning for Korean Army Soldiers? The Mediating Roles of Leisure Crafting and Gratitude

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung In Lim ◽  
Jason Yu ◽  
Young Woo Sohn
Keyword(s):  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Presence Of Meaning ◽  
Army Soldiers ◽  
The Republic

Many studies demonstrate that finding meaning in life reduces stress and promotes physical and psychological well-being. However, extant literature focuses on meaning in life among the general population (e.g., college students or office workers) in their daily lives. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the mechanisms of how individuals living in life-threatening and stressful situations obtain meaning in life, by investigating the mediating roles of leisure crafting and gratitude. A total of 465 Army soldiers from the Republic of Korea (ROK) participated in two-wave surveys with a 2-week interval. Structural equation modeling analyses indicated that the direct effects between the search for meaning, presence of meaning, leisure crafting, and gratitude were significant, except for the direct relationship between the search for meaning and the presence of meaning, and between leisure crafting and the presence of meaning. We tested indirect effects using a Monte Carlo approach and found that leisure crafting and gratitude sequentially mediated the relationship between the search for meaning and the presence of meaning. Our findings highlight the importance of the motivation behind searching for meaning, the proactive use of leisure time, and gratitude for individuals in stressful situations and controlled lifestyles. Finally, we discuss the implications and limitations of this research and future research directions.

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