Family as a salient source of meaning in young adulthood Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Five studies demonstrated the role of family relationships as an important source of perceived meaning in life. In Study 1 (n=450), 68% participants reported that their families were the single most significant contributor to personal meaning. Study 2 (n=231) participants ranked family above 12 likely sources of meaning. Studies 3 (n=87) and 4 (n=130) demonstrated that participants' reports of their closeness to family (Study 3) and support from family (Study 4) predicted perceived meaning in life, even when controlling for several competing variables. Study 5 (n=261) ruled out social desirability as an alternative explanation to the proposed relationship between family and meaning. We conclude that for young adults, family relationships are a primary source of meaning in life and they contribute to their sense of meaning. 2010 Taylor & Francis.

published proceedings

  • JOURNAL OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

altmetric score

  • 197

author list (cited authors)

  • Lambert, N. M., Stillman, T. F., Baumeister, R. F., Fincham, F. D., Hicks, J. A., & Graham, S. M.

citation count

  • 146

complete list of authors

  • Lambert, Nathaniel M||Stillman, Tyler F||Baumeister, Roy F||Fincham, Frank D||Hicks, Joshua A||Graham, Steven M

publication date

  • January 2010