engleski

Experiencing meaning in life: Sources of meaning and meaningfulness across life domains in adulthood

Background and aims: The process of making, experiencing and maintaining meaning in life may differ in various cultural contexts and life stages. This study investigated what brings meaning to life in adulthood and the contribution of meaningfulness and happiness in specific life domains to the presence of meaning. Method: Participants from 10 countries (N=2368) listed the three most meaningful things in their present life, rated meaningfulness and happiness across 10 life domains and completed SWLS, PANAS and Meaning in Life Questionnaire. Results: The majority of all open-ended answers related to three sources of meaning: family (35%), work (17%) and interpersonal relationships (10%). The meaningfulness across life domains explained 15% of the variance in presence of meaning in life, with family, work and spirituality as strongest contributors. Happiness in life domains explained an additional 8% of presence of meaning. Meaningfulness across life domains, presence and search for meaning significantly contributed to well-being. Relations between meaningfulness and happiness are discussed. Conclusion: Both qualitative and quantitative data confirm that family and work are salient sources from which adults derive a sense of meaning in life. Family/work salience and the relationship of meaning in life to well-being confirm current understandings of meaning in life.

Meaning in life; sources of meaning; life domains; adulthood

nije evidentirano