Relationship between life meaning and life satisfaction among university students

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship between life meaning and life satisfaction among university students. Methods Totally 473 university students were investigated with The Purpose In Life Test and Life Satisfaction Scale. Results (1)The scores of life satisfaction and positive affection in higher levels of life meaning were significantly higher than those in the lower levels of life meaning((4.53±1.04)vs(3.38±0.98), (2.89±0.88)vs(2.04±1.07)) among the university students(F=27.806, P<0.01; F=13.635, P<0.01), however the higher levels of life meaning were significantly lower than the lower levels of life meaning ((1.09±1.12)vs(2.45±1.41)) in negative affection(F=21.513, P<0.01). (2)The students' life satisfaction was negatively correlated with escape(r=-0.336, P<0.01). The others factors of life meaning were positively correlated with life satisfaction(r=0.285~0.380, P<0.01). The negative affection was negatively correlated with life meaning(r=-0.121~-0.335, P<0.05). (3)The escape had significantly negative prediction on life satisfaction and positive affection(β=-0.133~-0.179, P<0.05). The life of goals and the life of passion had significantly positive prediction on life satisfaction and positive affection(β=0.170~0.206, P<0.05). Conclusion Life meaning of the university students is closely related to life satisfaction, the higher levels of life meaning can upgrade individual life satisfaction. Key words: University students; Life meaning; Life satisfaction; Correlation analysis