Sentido de la vida y bienestar psicológico en adultos emergentes españoles

Abstract

Experiencing meaning in life (MiL) and psychological well-being (PWB) is an important developmental task in emerging adulthood, perhaps more than in any other period in life due to its transitional character and to the nature of its features, in Western societies. This study analyzes the relationship between MiL and PWB, as well as the differences in PWB according to the level of MiL (lack of meaning, indefinite meaning, and presence of meaning), in a sample of 333 Spanish emerging adults (224 women, 109 men), age ranged from 17 to 26 years, M = 21.06, SD = 2.23. Both Spanish versions of the Purpose-In-Life Test and the Ryff's Scales of Psychological Well-Being were used. The Spearman's coefficient of correlation showed a positive, significant relationship between MiL and PWB (global and dimensions). The Kruskal-Wallis test showed significant differences in PWB between lack of meaning, indefinite meaning, and presence of meaning groups, except in Autonomy, in which only the difference between the presence of meaning group and the indefinite meaning group was significant. MiL is associated to the cognitive, emotional, and motivational aspects that directly point to PWB: positive self-worth and selfacceptance, perception and experience of freedom, responsibility and self-determination, positive view of both life as a whole and future, purpose and commitment of significant existential goals, self-trascendence and opening up to the others, integrative but not resigned coping of the adversity, life satisfaction, and self-realization.

Teachers’ Life Meaning, Psychological Capital and Gender’s Effect on Their Psychological Well-Being

“…In the study, the presence of meaning, a sub-dimension of life meaning, was found to be one of the variables affecting psychological well-being. García-Alandete et al (2018) found a moderately significant relationship between the meaning level of people and their psychological well-being. While many authors relate the meaning of life to positive emotion and life satisfaction, some studies emphasize that life meaning is related to well-being and mental health; in fact, meaning should be a sub-dimension of all works regarding quality of life and well-being (Wong, 2013).…”

Where Emerging Adults in the United States Find Meaning in Life

“…This study focused on emerging adulthood as a distinct life stage in which achieving life meaning is an important developmental task (García-Alandete et al, 2018;Mayseless & Keren, 2014). We predicted that the time spent on social media would affect multiple dimensions of life meaning for emerging adults.…”

“…Because of the diverse findings and the paucity of existing literature, it may be useful to better understand the relationship between the time spent on social media and the presence of or search for meaning of life during emerging adulthood given the absence of research that explores the relation between social media usage and the importance of meaning and purpose (Bundick, 2011;García-Alandete et al, 2018;Kashdan & McKnight, 2009;Mayseless & Keren, 2014;Steger et al, 2009) during an especially salient period of life for emerging adults. There is some research related to purpose and social media.…”

“…Previous research has found that finding meaning in life is one of the main features of emerging adulthood (Steger et al, 2009). In Western industrialized countries, finding meaning in life is considered an important developmental task in emerging adulthood (García-Alandete et al, 2018;Mayseless & Keren, 2014). In addition, meaning and purpose in life have been found to predict well-being at various developmental stages across the life span (Heintzelman & King, 2014;Martela & Steger, 2016;Steger, 2009), including emerging adulthood (Hill et al, 2016).…”

The Relationship Between Psychological Well-Being and Autonomy in Young People According to Age

“…In contrast, Valle et al (2019) found that psychological well-being is related to the relationships established by individuals in public domains. Based on the difference in the results, future research needs to study this aspect further (García-Alandete et al, 2018).…”