Exploring Relationships Between Meaning in Life and Emotional Health among Young Adults of Malaysian Undergraduate Students

Abstract

Emotions are one of the vital aspects in ensuring healthy human functioning and psychological well-being. Thus, this study aims to explore another important psychological element, meaning in life and emotional health among Malaysian university students. This study was carried out using the explorative research design using the quantitative approach. Questionnaires consisted of questions relating to respondents' personal background, meaning in life and emotional health. Trained enumerators distributed questionnaire booklets to undergraduates who were currently residing in Klang Valley. Results showed that there were relationships between meaning in life (presence of meaning and search for meaning) and emotional health (depression r=-0.59**, p<0.01; anxiety r= -0.29**, p<0.01; and stress r= -0.36**, p<0.01). In addition, further analyses found meaning in life, specifically, presence of meaning, predicted emotional health for depression, F(2, 137) = 37.21, p < 0.01, R2 = 0.34; anxiety F(2, 137) = 0.84 , p < 0.01, R2 = 0.11 and stress F(2, 137) = 11.15, p < 0.01, R2 = 0.14. Findings indicate the importance to further investigate the role of meaning in life and emotional health with other specific psychological variables such as emotional regulation, coping and personality.

Well-being, character strengths, and depression in emerging adults

“…Likewise, the Meaning factor is important insofar as the more emerging adults experience this psychosocial resource, the lower their levels of depression. This result is similar to the study by Hoesni and Salleh (2022) who also found a negative predictive relationship between meaning in life and depression in a sample of emerging adults. According to the authors, the meaning of life is associated with a clear purpose and significance in life, with the satisfaction derived from this experience being capable of reducing undesirable emotional states.…”

Translation and Validation of the Malay Version of the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (ERQ-CA)

“…There is no study that has yet developed or validated an instrument to measure ER strategies among Malaysian adolescents in the Malay language. Studies of ER in the Malaysian population are mainly centered on adults [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ], and a Malay version of the ERQ which specifically targets adult samples has been developed [ 54 ]. While ER studies have been conducted among Malaysian adolescents [ 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 ], they remain scarce, and it is difficult to draw a reasonable conclusion regarding the development of Malaysian adolescents’ ER.…”