Meaning in Life and Happiness among Tertiary Education Students
Main Article Content
Keywords
Happiness, Presence of Meaning, Search for Meaning, Meaning in Life, Tertiary Education Students
Abstract
The study investigated and analyzed the relationship between meaning in life and happiness among tertiary education students. It employed both the descriptive-survey and correlational methods. The respondents are composed of 247 junior and senior students during the AY 2017-2018. They were chosen using the convenience non-random sampling technique. Results disclosed that the respondents have both a high level of meaning in life and happiness and that the two variables are significantly correlated. Generally, the respondents are experiencing and pursuing a meaningful and a happy life. Also, a significant difference existed between the meaning in life and happiness among the respondents when grouped according to program. A parallel study may be undertaken with faculty and employees in higher education institutions as respondents. For future study, variables which influence the nonmeaningfulness and unhappiness of the participants may be included. The results may be used in designing and implementing intervention programs and revisiting the policies and practices of the school guidance program for tertiary students.
References
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Cohen, K., & Cairns, D. (2011). Is searching for meaning in life associated with reduced subjective wellbeing? Confirmation and possible moderators. Journal of Happiness Studies, 13(2), 313-331.
DeRoon-Cassini, T. A., de St. Aubin, E., Valvano, A., Hastings, J., & Horn. P. (2009). Psychological well-being after spinal cord injury: Perception of loss and meaning making. Rehabilitation Psychology, 54, 306-314. doi:10.1037/a0016545
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Harter, M. (2012). Life meaning and purpose in life among Chinese adolescents: What can we learn from Chinese students in Hong Kong? https://www.researchgate.net/.../288658394_life_meaning_and_purpose_in_life_among...
Ho, M.Y., Cheung, F.M., & Cheung, S.F. (2010). The role of meaning in life and optimism in promoting well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 48, 658–663.
Lopez, ed. By C. R. Snyder; Shane J.; Baumeister, R.F.; Vohs, K.D. (2002). “The pursuit of meaningfulness in life”. Handbook of positive psychology. Oxford [u.a.]: Oxford Univ. Press. Pp. 608-618. IS0 195135334.
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Nelson, S. K. & Lyubomirsky, S. (2012). Finding happiness: Tailoring positive activities for optimal well-being benefits. To appear in M. Tugade, M. Shiota, & L. Kirby (Eds.), Handbook of positive emotions.
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Seligman, M. (2002), “Positive emotions undo negative ones”. Authentic Happiness. New York, New York: Simon & Schuster.
Shek, D.T.L. (2012). Life meaning and purpose in life among Chinese adolescents: What can we learn from Chinese studies in Hong Kong? In P.T.P. Wong (Ed.), The human quest for meaning: Theories, research, and applications (pp. 335–355). New York & London: Routledge.
Sherman, A. C., Simonton, S., Latif, U., & Bracy, L. (2010). Effects of global meaning and illness-specific meaning on health Outcomes among breast cancer patients. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 33, 364-377.doi:10.1007/ s10865-010-9267-7
Steger, M. F. (2005). Development and validation of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire: A measure of eudaimonic well-being. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, University of Minnesota, USA.
Steger, M.F., Frazier, P., Oishi, S., & Kaler, M. (2006). The Meaning in Life Questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(1), 80–93.
Steger, M.F., Kashdan, T.B., Sullivan, B.A., & Lorentz, D. (2009). Understanding the search for meaning in life: Personality, cognitive style, and the dynamic between seeking and experiencing meaning. Journal of Personality, 76(2), 199–228.
Tan, O., Parsons, R., Hinson, S. L., & Brown, D. (2003). Educational psychology: A practitioner-researcher approach (An Asian Edition) Thomson Learning, Australia, Thomson Asia Pte Ltd.
Tuzgöl Dost M. (2010). An examination of subjective well-being and life satisfaction of students attending to universities of South Africa and Turkey. Education and Science, 158 (35), 75-89.
Watson, D., Tellegen, A., & Clark, L. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54(6), 1063-1070.
Yanez, B., Edmondson, D., Stanton, A. L., Parck, C. L., Ganz, P. A., & Blank, T. O. (2009). Facets of spirituality as predictors of adjustment to cancer: Relative contributions of having faith and finding meaning. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77, 730-741. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8295.1992.tb02429.x
The Sustainable Development Agenda. http://www. iisd.org/topic/sustainable-development. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
Baumeister, R. F. et al., (2013). Some key differences between a happy life and a meaningful life. The Journal of Positive Psychology Vol. 8, 2013 – Issue 6: Positive psychology in search for meaning.
Bonebright, C. A., & Ankenmann, R. D. (2000). The relationship of workaholism with work life conflict, life satisfaction, and purpose in life. Journal of Counselling Psychology, 47, 469-477.
Brassai, L., Piko, B.F., & Steger, M.F. (2011). Meaning in life: Is it a protective factor for adolescents' psychological health? International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 18, 44–51.
Cohen, K., & Cairns, D. (2011). Is searching for meaning in life associated with reduced subjective wellbeing? Confirmation and possible moderators. Journal of Happiness Studies, 13(2), 313-331.
DeRoon-Cassini, T. A., de St. Aubin, E., Valvano, A., Hastings, J., & Horn. P. (2009). Psychological well-being after spinal cord injury: Perception of loss and meaning making. Rehabilitation Psychology, 54, 306-314. doi:10.1037/a0016545
Dezutter, J., Casalin, S., Wachholtz, A., Luyckx, K., Hekking, J., & Vandewiele, W. (2013). Meaning in life: An important factor for the psychological well-being of chronically ill patients. Rehabilitation Psychology 2013, Vol.58, No. 4. 334-341.
Diener, E., Oishi, S., & Lucas, R. E. (2008). Subjective well-being: The science of happiness and life satisfaction. In C.R. Snyder & S.J. Lopez (Ed.), Handbook of Positive Psychology. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.
Diener, E., Suh, E., Lucas, R. E., & Smith, H. L. (1999). Subjective well-being: Three decades of progress. Psychological Bulletin, 125, 276-302.
Fraenkel, J. R. et al (1994). How to design and evaluate research in education. United States: McGraw-Hill Inc. Grimminck, R. 5 theories of the meaning in life. Retrieved from: https://www.toptenz.net/5theories-meaning-life.php.
Grouden, M. E. & Jose, P. E. (2015). Do sources of meaning differentially predict search for meaning, presence of meaning, and well-being?. International Journal of Wellbeing, 5(1), 33-52. doi:10.5502/ijw.v5i1.3.
Harter, M. (2012). Life meaning and purpose in life among Chinese adolescents: What can we learn from Chinese students in Hong Kong? https://www.researchgate.net/.../288658394_life_meaning_and_purpose_in_life_among...
Ho, M.Y., Cheung, F.M., & Cheung, S.F. (2010). The role of meaning in life and optimism in promoting well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 48, 658–663.
Lopez, ed. By C. R. Snyder; Shane J.; Baumeister, R.F.; Vohs, K.D. (2002). “The pursuit of meaningfulness in life”. Handbook of positive psychology. Oxford [u.a.]: Oxford Univ. Press. Pp. 608-618. IS0 195135334.
Lyubomirsky, S. (2011). Hedonic adaptation to positive and negative experiences. In S. Folkman Ed. Oxford handbook of stress, health, and coping, 200-224.
McGillivray, M. & Clarke, M. (2006). Understanding human well-being. United Nations University Press, New York, N. Y..
Ming Hwei Yek, et al. (2017). Presence of meaning in life and search for meaning in life and relationship to health anxiety. http://journals.sagepub.com/ doipdf/10.1177/0033294117697084
Morgan, J., & Fastides, T. (2009). Measuring meaning in life. Journal of Happiness Studies, 10(2), 197-214.
Navarez, J. C. (2017). Presence of meaning, search for meaning and happiness among Filipino college students. De La Salle University-Manila.
Nelson, S. K. & Lyubomirsky, S. (2012). Finding happiness: Tailoring positive activities for optimal well-being benefits. To appear in M. Tugade, M. Shiota, & L. Kirby (Eds.), Handbook of positive emotions.
Park, C. L. Edmondson, D., Fenster, J. R. & Blank, T. O. (2008). Meaning making and psychological adjustment following cancer: The mediating roles of growth, life meaning, and restored just-world beliefs. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76. 863875. doi: 10.1037/a0013348
Park, N., Park, M., & Peterson, C. (2010). When is the search for meaning related to life satisfaction? Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 2010, 2(1), 1-13 doi:10.1111/ j.1758-0854.2009.01024.x
Powell, K. (2010). The relation of search for and presence of meaning in life to attitudes about death. Unpublished thesis. Faculty of Humboldt State University.
Santos, M.C.J., Magramo, C.J., Oguan, F.J., Paat, JN. J., & Barnachea, E. A. (2012). Meaning in life and subjective well-being: Is a satisfying life meaningful? Researchers World Journal of Arts, Science & Commerce. Vol. – III, Issue 4 (1), October 2012 [32].
Seligman, M. (2002), “Positive emotions undo negative ones”. Authentic Happiness. New York, New York: Simon & Schuster.
Shek, D.T.L. (2012). Life meaning and purpose in life among Chinese adolescents: What can we learn from Chinese studies in Hong Kong? In P.T.P. Wong (Ed.), The human quest for meaning: Theories, research, and applications (pp. 335–355). New York & London: Routledge.
Sherman, A. C., Simonton, S., Latif, U., & Bracy, L. (2010). Effects of global meaning and illness-specific meaning on health Outcomes among breast cancer patients. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 33, 364-377.doi:10.1007/ s10865-010-9267-7
Steger, M. F. (2005). Development and validation of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire: A measure of eudaimonic well-being. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, University of Minnesota, USA.
Steger, M.F., Frazier, P., Oishi, S., & Kaler, M. (2006). The Meaning in Life Questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(1), 80–93.
Steger, M.F., Kashdan, T.B., Sullivan, B.A., & Lorentz, D. (2009). Understanding the search for meaning in life: Personality, cognitive style, and the dynamic between seeking and experiencing meaning. Journal of Personality, 76(2), 199–228.
Tan, O., Parsons, R., Hinson, S. L., & Brown, D. (2003). Educational psychology: A practitioner-researcher approach (An Asian Edition) Thomson Learning, Australia, Thomson Asia Pte Ltd.
Tuzgöl Dost M. (2010). An examination of subjective well-being and life satisfaction of students attending to universities of South Africa and Turkey. Education and Science, 158 (35), 75-89.
Watson, D., Tellegen, A., & Clark, L. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54(6), 1063-1070.
Yanez, B., Edmondson, D., Stanton, A. L., Parck, C. L., Ganz, P. A., & Blank, T. O. (2009). Facets of spirituality as predictors of adjustment to cancer: Relative contributions of having faith and finding meaning. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77, 730-741. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8295.1992.tb02429.x
The Sustainable Development Agenda. http://www. iisd.org/topic/sustainable-development. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
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Published
Dec 24, 2018
Article Details
How to Cite
Ganal, N. N., & Navarez, J. C. (2018). Meaning in Life and Happiness among Tertiary Education Students. AsTEN Journal of Teacher Education, 3. https://doi.org/10.56278/asten.v3i.1019
Section
Research Article