Perceiving a Stable Self-Concept Enables the Experience of Meaning in Life

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Existential Psychology

Background:

• Meaning in life (MIL) is a key aspect of psychological well-being.
• The self-concept, particularly its perceived stability, is often linked to psychological states.
• Prior research suggests a connection between self-perception and life satisfaction, but the specific role of future self-continuity in MIL is less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the hypothesis that future self-continuity influences the experience of meaning in life.
• To examine the mediating role of self-certainty in the relationship between future self-continuity and MIL.
• To understand the psychological mechanisms underlying the connection between a stable sense of self and perceived life meaning.

Main Methods:

• Study 1: Correlational analysis in a nationally representative sample to assess the association between future self-continuity and MIL.
• Studies 2a & 2b: Experimental manipulation of future self-continuity (expectedness of future self) to establish causality.
• Study 3: Experimental manipulation of future self-continuity to test the indirect effect on MIL via self-certainty.

Main Results:

• Study 1 found initial evidence supporting the positive influence of future self-continuity on MIL.
• Studies 2a & 2b demonstrated that manipulating future self-continuity causally impacts self-certainty and feelings of MIL.
• Study 3 confirmed that self-certainty mediates the effect of future self-continuity on MIL.

Conclusions:

• The perception of a stable sense of self, or future self-continuity, is a significant antecedent to experiencing meaning in life.
• Self-certainty plays a crucial role in linking future self-continuity to feelings of MIL.
• Findings contribute to the conceptualization of MIL and the understanding of the self-concept's role in psychological well-being.