reviewAmerican PsychologistJan 1, 2014Closed access

Life is pretty meaningful.

University of Missouri

PubMed
Indexed incrossrefpubmed

Abstract

The human experience of meaning in life is widely viewed as a cornerstone of well-being and a central human motivation. Self-reports of meaning in life relate to a host of important functional outcomes. Psychologists have portrayed meaning in life as simultaneously chronically lacking in human life as well as playing an important role in survival. Examining the growing literature on meaning in life, we address the question "How meaningful is life, in general?" We review possible answers from various psychological sources, some of which anticipate that meaning in life should be low and others that it should be high. Summaries of epidemiological data and research using two self-report measures of meaning in life…

Citation impact

581
total citations
FWCI
37.60
Percentile
100%
References
150
Citations per year

Authors

2

Topics & keywords

Keywords
  • Meaning (existential)
  • Psychology
  • Meaning of life
  • Meaningful life
  • Cornerstone
  • Social psychology
  • Epistemology
  • Psychotherapist
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Good health and well-being
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