Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Self-Discrepancy Theory02:45

Self-Discrepancy Theory

One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
Functions of Life01:23

Functions of Life

Human life is characterized by a variety of functions that are essential for survival and well-being. These functions include metabolism, movement, development, growth and reproduction.
Metabolism
The basic function of an organism is to consume energy and molecules in foods, convert some of it into fuel for movement, sustain body functions, and build and maintain body structures. There are two types of reactions that accomplish this: anabolism and catabolism.
Anabolism is the process whereby...
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness01:19

High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adulthood01:27

Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adulthood

Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development outlines a series of stages through which individuals progress across the lifespan. Each stage involves a psychosocial conflict that significantly influences personal growth and well-being. Three key stages — intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation, and integrity versus despair — highlight the developmental challenges faced in adulthood.
Intimacy Versus Isolation in Early Adulthood
Individuals in early adulthood, from the 20s...
Characteristics of Life01:23

Characteristics of Life

Biology is a natural science that studies life and living organisms, including their structure, function, development, interactions, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. The field's scope is extensive and divided into several specialized disciplines, such as anatomy, physiology, ethology, genetics, and many more. All living things share a few key traits, including cellular organization, heritable genetic material and the ability to adapt/evolve, metabolism to regulate energy needs, the...
Cognitive Development During Adulthood01:30

Cognitive Development During Adulthood

Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The longitudinal relation between purpose in life and accelerometer-measured physical activity.

Mental health and physical activity·2026
Same author

Purpose in life and blood-based biomarkers of brain health.

The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences·2026
Same author

Personality nuances and inflammation: A coordinated analysis of six samples.

Psychoneuroendocrinology·2026
Same author

Purpose in life and coping strategies: Main associations and moderation by concurrent distress.

PloS one·2026
Same author

Momentary associations between purpose in life and social connection from a micro-longitudinal study of everyday life.

Acta psychologica·2026
Same author

The prospective association between loneliness and markers of hearing function among middle-aged and older adults in Europe and the US.

Journal of psychosomatic research·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

The Immersive Cleveland Clinic Virtual Reality Shopping Platform for the Assessment of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
08:36

The Immersive Cleveland Clinic Virtual Reality Shopping Platform for the Assessment of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living

Published on: July 28, 2022

Daily Activities and Purpose in Life.

Angelina R Sutin1, Martina Luchetti1, Yannick Stephan2

  • 1Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee United States.

International Journal of Wellbeing
|July 6, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Daily activities like socializing, childcare, and physical activity boost feelings of purpose in life. However, few activities significantly impact daily purpose, suggesting personal variations in what provides meaning.

Keywords:
Purpose in lifedaily activitiesdaily purposeecological momentary assessmentwithin-person

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 7, 2026

The Immersive Cleveland Clinic Virtual Reality Shopping Platform for the Assessment of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
08:36

The Immersive Cleveland Clinic Virtual Reality Shopping Platform for the Assessment of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living

Published on: July 28, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Gerontology
  • Sociology

Background:

  • Purpose in life is a crucial aspect of well-being that can fluctuate daily.
  • Understanding the link between daily activities and purpose is vital for promoting psychological health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between common daily activities and nightly purpose in life evaluations.
  • To examine how dispositional purpose influences engagement in specific daily activities.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study involving 303 adults (mean age 51.81) from the Couples Healthy Aging Project.
  • Participants completed nightly assessments of daily activities and purpose in life over eight days.
  • Statistical analyses examined correlations between specific activities and reported purpose.

Main Results:

  • Socializing in person, childcare, physical activity, hobbies, and household tasks were positively associated with daily purpose.
  • Lack of social engagement and boredom were linked to lower purpose.
  • Work, volunteering, and meditation/mindfulness/prayer showed no significant association with daily purpose.

Conclusions:

  • Daily social interactions, physical activity, and engaging hobbies significantly contribute to a sense of purpose.
  • Dispositional purpose was linked to increased socializing and mindfulness practices, and decreased boredom.
  • The limited number of activities associated with purpose highlights its complex and potentially individualized nature.