Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2025

The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
Meaning in life and adolescent self-control: Effect of perceived social support and its gender differences
Yafei Liu1, Siyu Di1, Yaohui Shi1
1Normal College, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China.
Purpose:
The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between meaning in life and adolescent self-control, as well as the role of perceived social support and gender in this pathway.
Methods:
For this purpose, a total of 936 adolescents from two high schools were selected as subjects in this study. The Meaning in Life Scale, the Self-Control Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale were used for the research.
Results:
The results obtained in this study have shown that meaning in life is a significant positive predictor of adolescent self-control and perceived social support. In addition, perceived social support partially mediates the relationship between meaning in life and self-control. Further, it has been found that gender moderates the second half of the pathway of the mediation model of meaning in life on self-control, specifically, perceived social support is a stronger predictor of self-control for females than for males.
Conclusion:
The results of this study suggest that enhancing perceived social support promotes self-control in adolescents with lower meaning in life, and this process is more pronounced in females.
Related Concept Videos
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Self-Discrepancy Theory
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adolescence

