Abstract
Factors influencing the development of purpose in life (PIL) were examined. Methods: We recruited 67 healthy students of Niigata University (34 males and 33 females, 18-35 years of age). PIL and approval motivation (AM), and memories of experiences (IME) were measured using the PIL test, Martin-Larsen Approval Motivation Scale (MLAM), and the Early Life and Youth Experiences Inventory. Confusion, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and thumb-tip temperature were measured before and during “Evaluating-Integrating Words Task (EIWT).” Results: In the Profile of Mood States (POMS) tests, changes in the confusion scores were significantly higher in the weak PIL compared to the firm PIL group. The scores were significantly higher for the firm AM compared to the weak AM group. Changes in heart rate were significantly higher in the weak PIL compared to the firm PIL group. IME scores for memories of the beauty of nature, empathetic listening from parents and teachers were positively or negatively correlated with PIL test scores or MLAM scores for life stages: infancy, junior high school, and university. Conclusion: PIL and AM seemed to grow through the experiences of the beauty of nature and empathic understanding by parents and teachers during various developmental stages. Purpose in life had greater influence on emotional response and the autonomic nervous system response during psychological stress compared to approval motivation
Highlights
Every person has the “will” to seek meaning in life or to achieve purpose in life (PIL) that is a concept drawn from existentialism (Frankl, 1972; Ishida, 2008)
Martin-Larsen Approval Motivation Scale (MLAM) scores were significantly higher for the W-PIL group compared to the F-PIL group
Intensity of Memories of Experiences (IME) scores of remembering feelings associated with the beauty of nature during infancy, junior high school, and university were positively correlated with PIL test scores; IME scores were negatively correlated with MLAM scores for the university age time period (Table 2)
Summary
Every person has the “will” to seek meaning in life or to achieve purpose in life (PIL) that is a concept drawn from existentialism (Frankl, 1972; Ishida, 2008). It was reported that variations in the stress response, including emotional and sympathetic nervous system activity depends on one’s view of life (Ishida, 2008). Crumbaugh and Maholick (Crumbaugh & Maholic, 1964) developed the PIL test to assess the intensity of response related to personal meaning in one’s life, and Sato and Tanaka modified the test for use with a Japanese population (Sato & Tanaka, 1974). Motivation can be classified as intrinsic and extrinsic (Bundra, 1977) The former relates to PIL (Frankl, 1972; Crumbaugh & Maholic, 1964; Sato & Tanaka, 1974), and the latter relates to the desire to get praise or to avoid punishment by others, such as parents or school teachers. A strong sense of PIL is widely recognized as an asset for coping with stress, but the underlining mechanism needs further clarification
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