Meaning in Life Predicts Decreased Depressive Symptoms and Increased Positive Affect over Time but Does not Buffer Stress Effects in a National Sample of African-Americans

Park, Crystal L.; Knott, Cheryl L.; Williams, Randi M.; Clark, Eddie M.; Williams, Beverly Rosa; Schulz, Emily

doi:10.1007/s10902-019-00212-9

Cited by 22 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Surprisingly, unlike other measures of well‐being, veterans' levels of meaning in life in our sample were comparable to those of civilian counterparts (see Fischer et al, 2020; Park et al, 2020). This may be because while military service may take a toll on physical and mental health, it may also prompt a sense of being in service to something larger than oneself, a type of transcendence that may increase a sense of purpose or meaning in life (George & Park, 2016).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 53%

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Post‐9/11 military veterans' adjustment to civilian life over time following separation from service

et al. 2021

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Objectives US military veterans face many challenges in transitioning to civilian life; little information is available regarding veterans' reintegration experiences over time. The current study characterized veterans' postdeployment stressful life events and concurrent psychosocial wellbeing over one year and determined how stressors and wellbeing differ by demographic factors. Methods Recent Post‐911 veterans (n = 402) were assessed approximately every three months for 1 year. Participants were 60% men, primarily White (78%), and 12% Latinx; the average age was 36 years. Results The frequency of stressful events decreased over time but was higher for men and minority‐race veterans (independent of time since separation). Veterans reported high mean levels of posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms, which improved slightly over time. Minority‐race and Latinx veterans had higher symptom levels and slower rates of symptom reduction. Conclusion Veterans remain distressed in their overall transition to civilian life. Interventions to promote resilience and help veterans manage readjustment to civilian life appear urgently needed.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 53%

“…Curiously, we saw no differences in meaning in life across demographic characteristics. Demographic differences in life meaning are understudied and warrant attention in future research (Park et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post‐9/11 military veterans' adjustment to civilian life over time following separation from service

et al. 2021

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“…Research on the relationship between purpose and mental health in the Black community has primarily included adults of all ages. For instance, in a national sample of Black Americans aged 21 and older, (Park et al, 2020) found that meaning in life was associated with lower depressive symptoms and greater positive affect two and a half years later. Studies exclusively focused on Black Americans in midlife and old age are emerging and their findings thus far suggest a salutary effect on mental health.…”

Section: Purpose In Life and Mental Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hope, Purpose, and Religiosity: The Impact of Psychosocial Resources on Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Blacks

2022

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Objective: We assessed the effects of hope, purpose in life, and religiosity on trajectories of depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older Blacks, with a focus on age differences in these associations. Methods: Data come from 1906 respondents from the 2006–2016 Health and Retirement Study. Linear mixed models were estimated and included interactions between age and time and between age and each psychosocial resource. Results: Depressive symptoms decreased for Blacks ages 51–64, did not change for those 65–74, and increased among Blacks age 75+. Hope and purpose in life were inversely associated with symptom levels but were not associated with change over time in symptomology. Associations were stronger among the youngest age group and weakest among the oldest. Religiosity was unrelated to depressive symptoms. Discussion: Psychosocial resources protect against depressive symptoms in age-dependent ways among middle-aged and older Blacks. Differences in these effects may be related to aging, cohort, and selection effects.

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“…Work is an emotional experience, and the expression of emotions as well as creation of feelings are expected parts of many service employees' work roles (Hochschild, 1983;Pugh, 2001). As a consequence, when a job helps employees attain terminal values, or engage in activities doing good for others, positive emotions will be experienced (Totterdell et al, 2011;Disabato et al, 2017;Park et al, 2020). Following "primitive emotional contagion" (Hatfield et al, 1993), employees' positive emotions can go beyond the individual level to influence one's group interactions, such as group cooperation (Barsade, 2002;Barsade et al, 2018) and team creativity (Tang and Shu, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of Employee Emotion Fluctuation on Service Performance: An Experience Sampling Data Analysis

et al. 2022

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Research on the relationship between emotions and job performance is ubiquitous, yet few scholars have examined the combined effects of different emotions. Drawing on the broaden-and-build theory and conservation of resources (COR) theory, we propose that employees’ daily emotion fluctuations (positive emotions vs. negative emotions) will affect their service performance in opposite directions. Furthermore, we propose these effects will be moderated by psychological [i.e., regulatory emotional self-efficacy (RESE)] and physiological (i.e., sleep quality) characteristics of the employees. Based on the experience sampling method (ESM), data (N = 810) obtained from 187 frontline employees of 35 bank branches over 18 consecutive days supports our hypotheses.

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Meaning in Life Predicts Decreased Depressive Symptoms and Increased Positive Affect over Time but Does not Buffer Stress Effects in a National Sample of African-Americans

Cited by 22 publications

References 42 publications

Post‐9/11 military veterans' adjustment to civilian life over time following separation from service

Post‐9/11 military veterans' adjustment to civilian life over time following separation from service

Hope, Purpose, and Religiosity: The Impact of Psychosocial Resources on Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Blacks

The Influence of Employee Emotion Fluctuation on Service Performance: An Experience Sampling Data Analysis

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