Addressing Important Questions in the Field of Adolescent Purpose

Abstract

In this review, we discuss three questions about the importance of studying purpose as a construct relevant to adolescence. We consider how finding a purpose can help youth answer questions such as “Who am I?” and “Where am I going?” and summarize the benefits of finding a purpose during adolescence. Purposeful youth are more agentic and driven in their lives, as well as happier and less susceptible to risks common in adolescence. We conclude by identifying areas that merit study, including the need to understand which contexts best scaffold the development of purpose among youth and the need for experimental research to strengthen causal claims.

Boring but important: A self-transcendent purpose for learning fosters academic self-regulation.

“…Unlike research that has developed psychological interventions to undo the belief that academic struggle might mean you are “dumb” (Aronson et al, 2002; Blackwell et al, 2007; Wilson & Linville, 1982), or that you might not belong or be valued in a setting (Cohen et al, 2009; Cohen & Sherman, 2014; Harackiewicz et al, 2014; Walton & Cohen, 2011), research on youth purpose has to date been limited mostly to correlational survey analyses or qualitative interviews, preventing strong causal inferences (Bronk, 2012; Burrow & Hill, 2011; Yeager & Bundick, 2009; see Hill, Burrow, & Sumner, 2013; though see Hulleman & Harackiewicz, 2009). The intervention developed here has the advantage of web-based scalability and replicable effects in different populations using different outcomes.…”

Purpose in Life as a Predictor of Mortality Across Adulthood

“…As such, this work points to the need for further investigation on why finding a purpose may add years to your life. For instance, given the link between purpose and agency (Hill et al, 2013), it may be important to examine daily physical activity and goal achievement as pathways linking purpose to healthy aging. Therefore, just like a purpose, the current study should provide researchers with a direction on where to go, rather than providing a final endpoint or conclusion.…”

Promoting Positive Future Expectations During Adolescence: The Role of Assets

“…The field of positive youth development has identified purpose as a developmental asset and an indicator of thriving (Scales & Leffert, 1999). Purpose is important for health and well-being, and has been linked to higher positive affect, life satisfaction, and academic achievement, as well as lower negative affect and substance use (Burrow & Hill, 2011; Hill, Burrow, & Sumner, 2013; Padelford, 1974). …”