Lives of significance (and purpose and coherence): subclinical narcissism, meaning in life, and subjective well-being

Abstract

Three studies addressed two research questions. First, does accounting for meaning in life (MIL) wipe out the association between narcissism and other aspects of well-being? Second, among the three facets of MIL (significance, purpose, and coherence), does significance explain the association between narcissism and MIL? All studies measured narcissism and MIL. Study 1 was a re-analysis of cross-sectional data, including measures of subjective well-being (SWB) and self-deceptive enhancement (N ¼ 415; Womick et al., 2019). Study 2, N ¼ 300, measured the facets of MIL in a sample of adults. Study 3, N ¼ 295, included MIL facets and self-esteem in a sample of students. In Studies 1 and 3, MIL fully mediated the relationship between narcissism and SWB. SWB did not fully mediate the association between narcissism and MIL. Studies 2 and 3 showed that all MIL facets accounted for the association between narcissism and MIL. Self-esteem partially mediated the association between narcissism and MIL, but self-esteem and MIL, both, independently wiped out the link between narcissism and SWB. Narcissism contributes to SWB through MIL, and the paths from narcissism to SWB through MIL and selfesteem are independent. Implications are discussed.

Subjective well-being and social-emotional loneliness of university students: The mediating effect of the meaning of life

“…These findings have indicated that individuals who have an open and stable meaning of life have higher levels of subjective well-being. Similar results have been obtained by several research studies in literature (Da Luz Vale Dias & Sant'Anna Dos Santos Vera, 2020;Krock & Gerymski, 2019;Womick et al, 2020). These studies have revealed the significant relationship between the perception of a meaningful life and happiness.…”

“…Studies show that the search for meaning in life is associated with social isolation (Steger et al, 2008;Kiang & Fuligni, 2010). Womick et al, (2020) found that individuals with a high sense of meaning had high levels of subjective well-being. According to the findings of some studies in the literature, people who have higher levels of the meaning in life have higher subjective well-being levels (Cohen & Cairns, 2011;Doğan et al, 2012;Galang et al, 2011;Ho et al, 2008;Morgan & Fastides, 2009;Steger & Frazier, 2005;Şahin et al, 2012).…”

Relation between narcissism and meaning in life: the role of conspicuous consumption

“…Although meaning in life is generally regarded as noble and rare by theorists, it should be regarded from a more objective perspective, as well as the manner to acquire it. The acquisition of external value may be the most important way for individuals to obtain meaning in life ( Costin and Vignoles, 2020 ; Womick et al., 2020 ), but the way to obtain external value varies among people. For some people, helping others makes them feel they are valuable.…”

“…Recent research has indicated that overt narcissism is positively correlated with the sense of meaning in life, and it can positively predict an individual's sense of meaning in life through significance ( Womick et al., 2020 ). Significance, one of the three components of meaning in life, refers to the feeling that life is worth living.…”

What makes me matter? Investigating how and why people feel significant

“…We tested this by examining the factor structure of questionnaires designed to assess each, and the associations between these measures and other variables. Prior studies have found that perceived mattering is associated with narcissism (Womick et al, 2020;total N = 595). Yet a desire for cosmic significance constitutes a far more grandiose ambition than a desire for significance to other people.…”