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I Gotta Say, Today Was a Good (and Meaningful) Day: Daily Meaning in Life as a Potential Basic Psychological Need

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  • Benjamin W. Hadden

    (Purdue University)

  • C. Veronica Smith

    (University of Mississippi)

Abstract

Prior research has found that global meaning in life promotes several forms of well-being such as better coping and lower stress, and suggests that meaning in life is a common experience that is shaped by daily experiences. We build on this research by testing the possibility that meaning is a basic psychological need. In Study 1, participants (N = 195) completed a 21-day diary that included daily assessments of depressive symptomology, affect, and self-esteem. In Study 2, participants (N = 142) completed a 14-day diary, adding stress and vitality as additional indicators of well-being. Across both studies, we found that meaning in life is a consistent predictor of psychological well-being. Further, in Study 2, we tested the unique role of meaning in life against other basic psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, competence, relatedness), finding that meaning in life continues to predict well-being even in the presence of other psychological needs.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin W. Hadden & C. Veronica Smith, 2019. "I Gotta Say, Today Was a Good (and Meaningful) Day: Daily Meaning in Life as a Potential Basic Psychological Need," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 185-202, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:20:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s10902-017-9946-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-017-9946-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Edward Deci & Richard Ryan, 2008. "Hedonia, eudaimonia, and well-being: an introduction," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, January.
    2. Stefan Schulenberg & Lindsay Schnetzer & Erin Buchanan, 2011. "The Purpose in Life Test-Short Form: Development and Psychometric Support," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 12(5), pages 861-876, October.
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    1. Seon, Youngwoon & Smith-Adcock, Sondra, 2023. "Adolescents’ meaning in life as a resilience factor between bullying victimization and life satisfaction," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    2. Natalia Czyżowska & Ewa Gurba, 2021. "Does Reflection on Everyday Events Enhance Meaning in Life and Well-Being among Emerging Adults? Self-Efficacy as Mediator between Meaning in Life and Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-14, September.
    3. Irina Nikolova & Marjolein C. J. Caniëls & Wilmar Schaufeli & Judith H. Semeijn, 2021. "Disengaging Leadership Scale (DLS): Evidence of Initial Validity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-19, March.
    4. Vivi Gusrini Rahmadani & Wilmar B. Schaufeli & Jeroen Stouten & Zhenduo Zhang & Zulkarnain Zulkarnain, 2020. "Engaging Leadership and Its Implication for Work Engagement and Job Outcomes at the Individual and Team Level: A Multi-Level Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-21, January.

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