Paper Title
Family as a salient source of meaning in young adulthood
Keywords
- Family Meaning
- Young Adulthood
- Life Purpose
- Social Support
- Emotional Closeness
- Personal Meaning
- Well-Being
- Family Bonds
- Psychological Fulfillment
- Interpersonal Relationships
- Family Influence
- Meaningful Connections
- Personal Growth
- Identity Formation
- Life Satisfaction
- Social Belonging
- Family
Research Impact Tools
Publication Info
Volume: 5 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 367-376
Published On
October, 2010
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Abstract
Five studies demonstrated the role of family relationships as an important source of perceived meaning in life. In Study 1 (n = 50), 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.
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