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The Implications of Meaning in Life on College Adjustment Among Chinese University Freshmen: The Indirect Effects via Academic Motivation

Author

Listed:
  • Jun Wei

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Cong Yi

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Yonghe Ti

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Shi Yu

    (The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen)

Abstract

This research examined whether college freshmen’s sense of meaning in life predicted changes in their college adjustment over time, and whether academic motivations played indirect effects underlying these predictive effects. Chinese college freshmen (N = 1183; Mage = 18.61 years; 60% female) from eight public universities reported on their presence of meaning, search for meaning, academic motivations, as well as college adjustment in the academic, social, and emotional domains twice over six months. The more presence of meaning freshmen possessed, the greater self-determined motivation they had for academics, which predicted improved academic adjustment over time. Freshmen’s presence of meaning also predicted overtime improvement in academic, social, and emotional adjustment via less non-self-determined academic motivation. The greater tendency freshmen had to search for meaning, the greater self-determined but not non-self-determined academic motivation they had, which predicted improved academic adjustment over time. The findings highlighted the importance of cultivating students’ sense of meaning in life at the start of their college life or earlier.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:25:y:2024:i:6:d:10.1007_s10902-024-00774-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-024-00774-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Eva Garrosa & Luis Manuel Blanco-Donoso & Isabel Carmona-Cobo & Bernardo Moreno-Jiménez, 2017. "How do Curiosity, Meaning in Life, and Search for Meaning Predict College Students’ Daily Emotional Exhaustion and Engagement?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 17-40, February.
    2. 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.
    3. Zuzanna Siwek & Anna Oleszkowicz & Aleksandra Słowińska, 2017. "Values Realized in Personal Strivings and Motivation, and Meaning in Life in Polish University Students," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 549-573, April.
    4. Karen Cohen & David Cairns, 2012. "Is Searching for Meaning in Life Associated With Reduced Subjective Well-Being? Confirmation and Possible Moderators," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 13(2), pages 313-331, April.
    5. 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.
    6. To, Siu-ming, 2016. "Loneliness, the search for meaning, and the psychological well-being of economically disadvantaged Chinese adolescents living in Hong Kong: Implications for life skills development programs," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 52-60.
    7. Miao Miao & Lei Zheng & Yiqun Gan, 2017. "Meaning in Life Promotes Proactive Coping via Positive Affect: A Daily Diary Study," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(6), pages 1683-1696, December.
    8. 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.
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