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On the Development of Meaning in Life Among College Freshmen: Social Relationship Antecedents and Adjustment Consequences

Author

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  • Jian-Bin Li

    (The Education University of Hong Kong
    The Education University of Hong Kong)

  • Ying-Shuang Wang

    (South China Normal University)

  • Kai Dou

    (Guangzhou University)

  • Ya-Fei Shang

    (Guangzhou Panyu Polytechnic)

Abstract

Entering tertiary education is a critical developmental task during emerging adulthood when exploration of life meaning becomes salient. A strong sense of meaning in life (MIL) plays a key role in smooth transition to college. However, little is known about how MIL develops in the first year of college, and even less is studied about the extent to which such development is a function of social relationships and predicts subsequent adjustment outcomes in college freshmen. This three-wave longitudinal research aims to address these underexplored questions, collecting data from Chinese college freshmen regarding their MIL, social relationships with parents, peers, and teachers, and a range of adjustment outcomes (i.e., life satisfaction, adaptation, procrastination, and smartphone addiction) at the second (T1), fourth (T2), and eighth (T3) months upon entry into college (i.e., higher vocational training institute; T1 N = 1,578). Results of latent growth models unravelled that Chinese college freshmen’s MIL showed a slight, but significant, decrease over the first year of college. Positive relationships with mother and teachers were related to higher levels of initial MIL and a positive teacher-student relationship mitigated the decline of MIL over time. In addition, results of path analysis revealed that MIL was concurrently related to better adjustment at both T2 and T3 and that T2 MIL also predicted better adjustment at T3. Mediation analyses further revealed that T2 MIL mediated the associations between T1 teacher-student relationship quality and T3 adjustment, even after controlling for T1 MIL and T2 adjustment. These findings bear important implications for college freshmen’s positive transition to college.

Suggested Citation

  • Jian-Bin Li & Ying-Shuang Wang & Kai Dou & Ya-Fei Shang, 2022. "On the Development of Meaning in Life Among College Freshmen: Social Relationship Antecedents and Adjustment Consequences," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1709-1735, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:23:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1007_s10902-021-00470-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-021-00470-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kai Dou & Lin-Xin Wang & Jian-Bin Li & Guo-Dong Wang & Yan-Yu Li & Yi-Ting Huang, 2020. "Mobile Phone Addiction and Risk-Taking Behavior among Chinese Adolescents: A Moderated Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Simon Larose & Stéphane Duchesne & David Litalien & Anne-Sophie Denault & Michel Boivin, 2019. "Adjustment Trajectories During the College Transition: Types, Personal and Family Antecedents, and Academic Outcomes," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 60(5), pages 684-710, August.
    3. Steven Tsun-Wai Chu & Helene Hoi-Lam Fung, 2021. "Is the Search for Meaning Related to the Presence of Meaning? Moderators of the Longitudinal Relationship," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 127-145, January.
    4. Jian-Bin Li & Kai Dou & Yue Liang, 2021. "The Relationship Between Presence of Meaning, Search for Meaning, and Subjective Well-Being: A Three-Level Meta-Analysis Based on the Meaning in Life Questionnaire," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 467-489, January.
    5. Sylvester Dodzi Nyadanu & Mirrielle Yayra Garglo & Timothy Adampah & Rachel Libline Garglo, 2015. "The Impact of Lecturer-Student Relationship on Self-Esteem and Academic Performance at Higher Education," Journal of Social Science Studies, Macrothink Institute, vol. 2(1), pages 264-281, January.
    6. Michael Steger & Todd Kashdan, 2007. "Stability and specificity of meaning in life and life satisfaction over one year," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 8(2), pages 161-179, June.
    7. Antonovsky, Aaron, 1993. "The structure and properties of the sense of coherence scale," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 725-733, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiao, Luxia & Yao, Meilin & Liu, Hongrui, 2024. "Beliefs about the universality of meaning in life enhance psychological and academic adjustment among university students: The role of meaning in life and stress mindset," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    2. Jun Li & Jian-Hao Huang, 2023. "The Relationship between Meaning in Life and School Adaptation among College Students: The Moderating Effect of Family Functioning," International Journal of Higher Education, Sciedu Press, vol. 12(5), pages 1-53, October.
    3. Jun Wei & Cong Yi & Yonghe Ti & Shi Yu, 2024. "The Implications of Meaning in Life on College Adjustment Among Chinese University Freshmen: The Indirect Effects via Academic Motivation," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 25(6), pages 1-22, August.

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