Abstract
Going beyond previous research suggesting that the search for meaning in life (hereafter “search for meaning”) is associated with civic engagement, this study investigated the moderating effects of personal and cultural values on the associations between the search for meaning and two kinds of civic engagement (i.e., pro-environmental engagement and political engagement). Based on the dataset of the sixth wave of the World Values Survey (WVS), multi-level analyses showed that the association between the search for meaning (in terms of thinking about meaning and purpose of life) and pro-environmental engagement was stronger when people held stronger values of openness to change (vs. conservation) and prioritized environmental wellness. The association between the search for meaning and political engagement was stronger when people endorsed stronger values of openness to change, showed a greater interest in politics and attributed greater importance to politics. At the society level, the association between the search for meaning and civic engagement was stronger in societies with a lower power distance. Implications for individual differences of the meaning search are discussed.
Highlights
The search for meaning in life is conceptualized as the degree to which people desire and endeavor to construct or enhance their comprehension of life meaning, the significance of their lives, and purpose in their lives (Steger et al, 2006)
As a conceptual replication of previous research (Scales et al, 2014; van Tilburg and Igou, 2017), this study examined whether individuals’ search for meaning increases their civic engagement in two domains, political engagement, and pro-environmental engagement
People who more strongly engaged in the reflection on purpose and meaning reported higher engagement in pro-environmental and political civic activities
Summary
The search for meaning in life (hereafter “search for meaning”) is conceptualized as the degree to which people desire and endeavor to construct or enhance their comprehension of life meaning, the significance of their lives, and purpose in their lives (Steger et al, 2006). It is not equivalent to having a meaningful life, which denotes a subjective experience that life is meaningful Instead, it pertains to a process in which people cognitively or behaviorally explore how they can make their lives more meaningful, significant and purposeful (Steger et al, 2008a). Previous studies (Scales et al, 2014; van Tilburg and Igou, 2017) suggest that people who have greater engagement in the meaning search are more likely to take up civic actions such as joining pro-environment activities or donating to charity. Identifying the individuals who would be more likely to use civic engagement to fulfill their life meaning becomes an important yet unresolved issue
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