scholarly journals Interpersonal Forgiveness and Meaning in Life in Older Adults: The Mediating and Moderating Roles of the Religious Meaning System

Religions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Dariusz Krok ◽  
Beata Zarzycka
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Interpersonal Forgiveness ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Religious Meaning ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Meaning System ◽  
Meaning In Life Questionnaire

Forgiving others may play an important role in achieving meaning in life as it offers a valuable platform for deliberate moral acts of acceptance of positive affect, behaviour, and cognition towards a transgressor. The aim of this paper was to analyse the relationship between forgiveness and presence, and the search for meaning in life, as well as the mediating role of the religious meaning system in this relationship among older adults. A total of 205 older adults, 112 women and 93 men, participated in the study. The mean age was 72.59. The Transgression-Related Interpersonal Motivations Scale, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, and the Religious Meaning System Questionnaire were employed in the research; revenge and avoidance revealed negative correlations with presence, whereas benevolence showed positive correlations, but not with the search for meaning in life. The religious meaning system was confirmed as a mediator in the relationships between forgiveness (revenge, avoidance, and benevolence) and both presence and the search for meaning. The findings point to the significant role played by religious beliefs and behaviour in the domain of purpose and goals. Additionally, testing the mediation and moderation effects sheds new light on the interaction of compassion- and goal-oriented mechanisms in older adults’ meaning in life.

Meaning in Life and Substance Use

2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-19
Author(s):  
Matthew Csabonyi ◽  
Lisa J. Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Lower Alcohol ◽  
Meaning In Life Questionnaire

Viktor Frankl theorized that an absence of meaning in one’s life can result in boredom and apathy—the “existential vacuum”—and attempts to avoid or “escape” the vacuum can include short-acting distracting behaviors. This study investigated whether the presence of meaning (PM) or the search for meaning are associated with alcohol, drug, and cigarette use by young adults, and whether boredom mediates those relationships. Hundred and seventy-six young adults completed the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, and provided information about cigarette and illicit drug use over the preceding year. The results partly support Frankl’s model: higher PM was associated with lower alcohol/other drug use and boredom mediated those relationships, but PM was not related to cigarette smoking. Contrary to Frankl’s model, no relationship was found between search for meaning and alcohol, drug, or cigarette use. This suggests that psychological interventions that assist individuals who use drugs or alcohol to identify meaning or purpose in their lives might reduce levels of drug and alcohol use. The process of searching for meaning may not have substantial direct impact on levels of substance use, but once some meaning was established there may be decreased impetus to continue using drugs and alcohol.

scholarly journals Relationship between meaning in life and death anxiety in the elderly: self-esteem as a mediator

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaxi Zhang ◽  
Jiaxi Peng ◽  
Pan Gao ◽  
He Huang ◽  
Yunfei Cao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Death Anxiety ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Life And Death ◽  
Meaning In Life Questionnaire ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background Death anxiety is a common phenomenon in all societies. Older adults may be more prone to death anxiety than their younger counterparts; however, death anxiety among older adults is not well understood. This study explores the relationship between meaning in life, self-esteem, and death anxiety in senior citizens in China. Methods A total of 283 older adults participated in this study; data were collected via the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Death Anxiety Scale. Results Results show that the dimensions of meaning in life, presence of meaning (r = − 0.43, p < 0.01), search for meaning (r = − 0.31, p < 0.01), and self-esteem (r = − 0.54, p < 0.01) were each negatively correlated with death anxiety. Regression analysis reveals that meaning in life significantly predicted self-esteem and death anxiety (F = 45.70, p < 0.01; R2 = 0.33). Path analysis indicated that self-esteem either completely or partially mediated the effects of meaning in life on death anxiety in older adults. Conclusions Overall, meaning in life appears to be significantly correlated with death anxiety in older adults, and self-esteem can mediate this effect.

Meaning in Life in Earlier and Later Older-Adulthood: Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Correlates of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 1270-1294 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Hallford ◽  
D. Mellor ◽  
R. A. Cummins ◽  
M. P. McCabe
Keyword(s):  
Psychosocial Development ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Psychological Resources ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Older Adulthood ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Meaning In Life Questionnaire

Objective: To validate the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) in earlier and later older-adulthood, and examine its correlates. Method: Participants in earlier ( n = 341, M age = 68.5) and later older-adulthood ( n = 341, M age = 78.6) completed the MLQ and other measures. Confirmatory multigroup analysis, correlations, and regression models were conducted. Results: A two-factor (presence and search), eight-item model of the MLQ had a good fit and was age-invariant. Presence and search for meaning were largely unrelated. Meaning was associated with life satisfaction, well-being across a range of domains, and psychological resources. Searching for meaning correlated negatively with these variables, but to a lesser degree in later older-adulthood. Discussion: The MLQ is valid in older-adulthood. Meaning in life is psychologically adaptive in older-adulthood. Searching for meaning appears less important, especially in later older-adulthood. Findings are discussed in the context of aging and psychosocial development.

scholarly journals Inspiration, meaning in life and gratitude as predictors of subjective well-being in the case of a group of students

2021 ◽  
Vol 11(73) ◽  
pp. 86-94
Author(s):  
Beatrice Adriana Balgiu ◽  
◽  
Ruxandra Sfeatcu ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Negative Experience ◽  
Single Item ◽  
Meaning In Life Questionnaire ◽  
Negative Predictor

The aim of the present study is to determine the prediction level of gratitude, meaning in life, and inspiration on Subjective Well-being (SWB). 325 undergraduates (149 males and 176 females) with Mage=19,29 (S.D.=1,40) participated in the study. In order to measure the respective concepts, we used the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE), the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), the Inspiration Scale (IS), and Single-item measures for life satisfaction and gratitude. The study used descriptive, correlational, and regression analyses. The results of the regression analyses showed that gratitude accounts for most of the SWB variance. The presence of meaning affects SWB positively, while the search for meaning is a negative predictor of SWB. Inspiration frequency is one of the weak predictors of SWB, while inspiration intensity is not a significant predictor of SWB. The results are discussed within the context of the existing literature.

The Relationship between Presence of Meaning, Search for Meaning, and Subjective Well-Being: A Three-Level Meta-Analysis based on the Meaning in Life Questionnaire

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Bin Li ◽  
Kai Dou
Keyword(s):  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Life Meaning ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cross Sectional Studies ◽  
Meaning In Life Questionnaire

Meaning in life can be understood as how much people experience life meaning, i.e., presence of meaning (POM) and how intensely they seek life meaning, i.e., search for meaning (SFM). Previous research has related POM and SFM to the subjective well-being (SWB) of individuals, but the findings are inconsistent. This meta-analysis investigates the overall relationship between POM/SFM and SWB by examining previous studies that have used Steger et al.’s (2006) Meaning in Life Questionnaire to assess POM and SFM. Results of 148 studies, reporting 726 effect sizes (N=92,169), suggest the effect size for the “POM–SWB” relationship is close to medium (ESz=0.418, p&lt;.001, 95% CI=[0.390,0.446]). The effect is larger in life satisfaction and cross-sectional studies. The effect size for the “SFM–SWB” association is small (ESz=-.121, p&lt;.001, 95% CI=[-0.155,-0.817]), with the effect being larger for negative affect, cross-sectional studies, and older participants. Interestingly, SFM is positively related to SWB for participants from countries with a high collectivism index, suggesting a stronger association for people from such countries. This study shows a robust link between presence of life meaning and greater SWB, and that while searching for life meaning may be adverse to SWB, the effect is small and conditional.

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.

scholarly journals The meaning in life questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life.

2006 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael F. Steger ◽  
Patricia Frazier ◽  
Shigehiro Oishi ◽  
Matthew Kaler
Keyword(s):  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Meaning In Life Questionnaire

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.

Adolescents' interpersonal relationships, self-consistency, and congruence: Life meaning as a mediator

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (11) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Jinhui Ye ◽  
Xiaoting Ye
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
The Self ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Life Meaning ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Comprehensive Diagnosis ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Meaning In Life Questionnaire ◽  
Self Consistency

Self-consistency and congruence are indices used to measure individual mental health. We explored the correlations between interpersonal relationships, life meaning, self-consistency, and congruence in adolescents. Participants (N = 886) completed the Comprehensive Diagnosis Scale of Interpersonal Relationships, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire–Chinese Version, and the Self-Consistency and Congruence Scale. Results show there were strong positive correlations between participants' interpersonal relationships, life meaning, selfconsistency, and congruence. Further, life meaning mediated the connections between interpersonal relationships, self-consistency, and congruence. In addition to this indirect effect, interpersonal relationships directly affected participants' self-consistency and congruence. School- or individual-level interventions to help adolescents search for life meaning and improve interpersonal relationships could help improve their self-consistency and congruence.

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