The relationship between search for meaning in life and symptoms of depression and anxiety: Key roles of the presence of meaning in life and life events among Chinese adolescents
- PMID: 33433384
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.12.156
The relationship between search for meaning in life and symptoms of depression and anxiety: Key roles of the presence of meaning in life and life events among Chinese adolescents
Abstract
Background: Meaning in life has been associated with greater mental health. However, previous findings are inconsistent regarding how the search for meaning in life (SML) is related to mental health issues such as symptoms of depression and anxiety. This study proposed and tested a new model to explain how the relationship between SML and symptoms of depression as well as anxiety can be moderated by life events and mediated by the presence of meaning in life (PML).
Methods: Middle and high school students (N = 1,705, 836 girls and 869 boys; Mage = 14.37, SD = 1.70) were administrated the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the State Anxiety Inventory.
Results: Results showed that the relationship between SML and symptoms of depression (or anxiety) depended on the impact of the life events experienced by the individual. In general, SML served as a beneficial or unrelated factor for those experiencing low impactful life events, but as a harmful factor for those experiencing high impactful life events. For those experiencing middle impactful life events, SML had a positive direct effect, but a negative indirect effect (through PML) on symptoms of depression (or anxiety).
Limitations: Data are cross-sectional, and the present study examined only middle school students, which may limit generalizability.
Conclusions: The findings indicate a complex relationship between SML and mental health. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other related problems may be diminished by applying training programs and policies aimed at increasing PML and reducing negative life events.
Keywords: Anxious symptoms; Chinese adolescents; Depressive symptoms; Life events; Presence of meaning in life; Search for meaning in life.
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Similar articles
-
Associations between negative life events and anxiety, depressive, and stress symptoms: A cross-sectional study among Chinese male senior college students.Psychiatry Res. 2018 Dec;270:26-33. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.09.019. Epub 2018 Sep 13. Psychiatry Res. 2018. PMID: 30243129
-
[The temporal relationship between anxiety and depression during the school transition between primary and high-school].Sante Ment Que. 2013 Autumn;38(2):257-75. doi: 10.7202/1023999ar. Sante Ment Que. 2013. PMID: 24719012 French.
-
Self-reported Rates of Abuse, Neglect, and Bullying Experienced by Transgender and Gender-Nonbinary Adolescents in China.JAMA Netw Open. 2019 Sep 4;2(9):e1911058. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.11058. JAMA Netw Open. 2019. PMID: 31490542 Free PMC article.
-
Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of psychological health problems in Chinese adolescents during the outbreak of COVID-19.Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2020 Jun;29(6):749-758. doi: 10.1007/s00787-020-01541-4. Epub 2020 May 3. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2020. PMID: 32363492 Free PMC article.
-
Post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression symptoms among adolescent earthquake victims: comorbidity and associated sleep-disturbing factors.Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2018 Nov;53(11):1241-1251. doi: 10.1007/s00127-018-1576-0. Epub 2018 Aug 14. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2018. PMID: 30109368
Cited by
-
The influence mechanism underlying meaning in life on career adaptability among college students: a chain intermediary model.Front Psychol. 2024 Mar 4;15:1292996. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1292996. eCollection 2024. Front Psychol. 2024. PMID: 38500644 Free PMC article.
-
"Meaning in Life" Mediates the Relationship between Loneliness and Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic.Healthcare (Basel). 2024 Mar 4;12(5):584. doi: 10.3390/healthcare12050584. Healthcare (Basel). 2024. PMID: 38470695 Free PMC article.
-
The Relationship Between Physical Exercise and Aggressive Behavior Among College Students: The Mediating Roles of Life Satisfaction, Meaning in Life, and Depression.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2024 Jan 26;17:305-315. doi: 10.2147/PRBM.S450326. eCollection 2024. Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2024. PMID: 38292255 Free PMC article.
-
Religious meaning system and life satisfaction: the mediating role of meaning in life among Polish people with multiple sclerosis.Front Psychiatry. 2024 Jan 11;14:1352021. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1352021. eCollection 2023. Front Psychiatry. 2024. PMID: 38274416 Free PMC article.
-
How rumination influences meaning in life among Chinese high school students: the mediating effects of perceived chronic social adversity and coping style.Front Public Health. 2023 Dec 1;11:1280961. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1280961. eCollection 2023. Front Public Health. 2023. PMID: 38106898 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Medical