Person, temporal, and contextual predictors of momentary purpose in everyday life

Abstract

Recent theoretical and empirical advances in purpose in life indicate a state component to feeling purposeful. This study used a micro-longitudinal study to identify person (age, sex, race, education), temporal (day in study, time of day, weekend), and broad (at work, with others) and specific (e.g., eating/drinking, shopping) contextual factors associated with momentary feelings of purpose. Participants (N = 303; age range 40–70) reported their momentary purpose three times a day for eight days and what they were doing at the time of the alert for the survey. Relatively older participants (b = 0.36, SE = 0.13, p = .007) reported more momentary purpose compared to relatively younger participants. Participants reported more purpose in the afternoon (b = 2.18, SE = 0.62, p < .001) and less purpose on weekends (b = −1.37, SE = 0.62, p = .027). The broad contextual factors were associated with purpose: Participants reported being more purpose-driven at work (b = 9.30, SE = 0.71, p < .001) or with others (b = 2.15, SE = 0.57, p < .001) compared to not at work or alone, respectively. Specific contextual factors were associated with feeling more purpose-driven (e.g., caregiving b = 14.17, SE = 1.99, p < .001; exercising b = 15.59, SE = 1.65, p < .001), except leisure activities, which were associated with less purpose (b = −4.76, SE = 0.99, p < .001). Feeling purposeful varies across moments and is sensitive to time of day, location, and activities engaged in.