Predictive Effect of Meaning of Life on Psychological Well-Being and Happiness Among University Students

Abstract

In this study, it is aimed to examine the predictive effect of the meaning in life on psychological well-being and happiness in university students. In the study, it was also investigated whether there was a significant difference between the meaning in life, psychological well-being and happiness scores in terms of gender. The study population of the research consists of students studying at Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Education in the fall semester of the 2021-2022 academic year. The study group consisted of a total of 323 students, 236 (73.1%) girls and 87 (26.9%) boys, aged between 20 and 26 (x̄=21.62), selected with the convenience sampling method, one of the non-random sampling methods. In the study personal information form, Short form of Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, Psychological Well-Being Scale and Meaning in Life Questionnaire were used as data collection tools. According to the findings obtained from the study, the meaning in life predicted students' psychological well-being at a significant level; it was seen that the meaning in life explained about 30% of the total variance in students' psychological well-being scores. In addition, the meaning in life predicted the happiness level of students at a significant level; it was seen that the meaning in life explained about 23% of the total variance in the happiness scores of the students in a meaningful way. Finally, it was found that there was no significant difference between the meaning in life, happiness and psychological well-being scores of the students according to their gender.