The researchers note that meaning of life has been defined as having a sense of coherence, an enhanced understanding of the world, and in finding a sense of purpose in life. Previous research has found a link between higher meaning in life in positive outcomes including more positive emotions and higher vitality, as well as less symptoms of depression and lower risky behavior.
The study distinguished between two dimensions of meaning in life:
(1) Presence of Meaning -- perception of significance, purpose and value
(2) Search for Meaning -- intensity of effort to establish or increase meaning in life
The study identified five types of people:
(1) High Presence--Low Search
These individuals scored highest in measures of psychological well-being and lower in negative indicators of psychosocial functioning.
(2) High Presence--High Search
These individuals scores the second highest in measures of psychological well-being, but not as high as the high presence-low search group.
(3) Low Presence-Low Search
Those scoring in this category were the lowest functioning of the sample.
(4) Low Presence-High Search
While still scoring low in functioning, they scores higher than the Low Presence-Low Search group. In particular, they scores higher in eudiamonic and psychological well-being, and scores lower in tendencies to break rules and were less likely to report social and physical aggression than the Low Presence-Low Search group.
(5) Undifferentiated
Scored at intermediate levels.
Full Text of Article Here:
http://sethschwartz.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Meaning-in-Life-Clusters1.pdf
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