Pushing up daisies: Goal orientations, death awareness, and satisfaction with life

How thoughts of death and intrinsic/extrinsic goal orientation affect well‐being during the pandemic

“…In other words, when under conscious death thoughts, participants who put a relatively more emphasis on intrinsic goals, such as personal growth, meaningful relationships, and community contributions, appreciated their lives, whereas those who put a relatively more emphasis on materialistic goals, such as wealth, fame, and image, depreciated their lives. These results support the assertion that intrinsic goal orientation is a “positive existential motivational orientation” that facilitates better adjustment to stressful life events and fosters well‐being (Vail et al, 2019). Lack of intrinsic orientation, or being oriented toward materialistic values, on the other hand, appears to be a factor undermining adaptation and well‐being rather than merely an obstacle in the path.…”

“…The current research also attempted to replicate two relevant studies from the literature. Study 2 was a close replication of Vail et al (2019, Study 2), which found that MS decreased life satisfaction among weaker RIGO participants, whereas it increased life satisfaction among stronger RIGO participants. Our results partly affirm their findings as the weaker RIGO participants experienced a decrease in life evaluation.…”

“…Vail's et al, 2019 work is the only to directly examine the role of goal orientation in the relationship between MS and well‐being; however, correlational evidence supports their findings. For example, near‐death experiences and post‐traumatic growth research indicate that, for most positive psychological changes following near‐death or otherwise stressful events, a reorientation toward intrinsic goals accompanies an appreciation of life and a reduced fear of death (Flynn, 1986; Goza et al, 2014; Grey, 1985; Greyson, 1992; Greyson & Stevenson, 1980; Moody, 1977; Musgrave, 1997; Noyes, 1980; Ring, 1984; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1995, 1996, 2004).…”

“…The purpose of this study was to assess whether previous findings on the relationship between MS and life evaluation replicate under ecologically more valid conditions, in other words, during the COVID‐19 pandemic. To this end, we attempted to replicate Study 2 of Vail et al (2019) and Study 1 of Routledge et al (2010). Both of these studies concerned the effect of non‐conscious death thoughts and examined the moderating roles of goal orientation and self‐esteem, respectively.…”

“…More relevant to the current investigation, a recent replication of one of the studies in Routledge et al (2010) failed to replicate the moderating role of self‐esteem in the relationship between MS and life satisfaction with a more highly powered test than the original. Instead, it presented evidence for the moderating role of goal orientation (Vail et al, 2019).…”