![]() ![]() Critically, meaning is a vital psychological resource for coping with these challenges ( Park and Folkman, 1997). Eventually, we all lose loved ones and must face death ourselves. Life often involves experiences of uncertainty, stress, sadness, and loss. Indeed, people with greater perceptions of meaning respond more positively to psychotherapy ( Debats, 1996). For example, when people face mental health challenges, meaning in life may play a vital role in treatment success by motivating people to be compliant and actively engaged in the treatment process. Research identifying meaning as a coping resource further reveals its motivational nature (see Park, 2010). These and related findings (see Steger et al., 2006) also highlight that meaning isn't synonymous with other well-being indicators. Findings such as these reveal that when people are focused on what gives their lives meaning, they are generally more agentic and inspired. For instance, when individuals bring to mind and reflect on meaningful life memories, they subsequently report greater perceptions of meaning and motivation to pursue goals, and this motivational effect cannot be attributed to positive affect ( Sedikides and Wildschut, 2018). ![]() More broadly, meaning drives goal pursuit (see Routledge, 2018). For example, meaning in life, but not well-being indicators such as positive affect or optimism, positively predicts physical activity ( Hooker and Masters, 2016) and when people are thinking about what gives their lives meaning, they are more likely to engage in physical exercise and to exercise for longer intervals, even if they were previously physically inactive ( Hooker and Masters, 2018). Meaning positively contributes to psychological and physical health because of its motivational and self-regulatory nature (see Hooker et al., 2018 Routledge, 2018). Understanding why meaning matters so much for health and well-being paves the way for a broader analysis of existential health and the role it plays in societal flourishing. Meaning is also positively associated with physical health and longevity (e.g., Czekierda et al., 2017). Moreover, meaning reduces the risk for depression (e.g., Disabato et al., 2017), addiction (e.g., Kinnier et al., 1994), and suicide (e.g., Edwards and Holden, 2001). The more people feel meaningful, the more they experience overall positive psychological well-being (e.g., Steger and Frazier, 2005). Scholars have long recognized that meaning in life is an important psychological need. Meaning Promotes Psychological and Physical Health More specifically, we argue that meaning functions as a self-regulatory and motivational intrapsychic resource that orients people toward the types of cognitions and behaviors that build and sustain healthy communities and societies. We propose that meaning has important social and economic implications, particularly when societies are facing major existential threats such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the growing recognition that meaning in life is vital for humans, scholars have largely ignored how meaning influences broader societal flourishing. Individuals who perceive their lives as full of meaning live longer, healthier, and happier lives than those less inclined to view their lives as meaningful. A growing body of research identifies meaning in life as a fundamental human need that strongly influences both psychological and physical well-being (see Vail and Routledge, 2020). Meaning in life reflects the feeling that one's existence has significance, purpose, and coherence (see Heintzelman and King, 2014). ![]()
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