Perceived Acceleration in Working Life and Meaning in Life: The Role of Sense of Agency and Urban-Rural Differences

Drawing on social acceleration theory, this study examines how two perceived dimensions of acceleration in working life-technological acceleration and acceleration of social change-are associated with sense of agency and meaning in life among employed young adults in contemporary China. These two dimensions capture perceived increases in communication and information flow, as well as changing knowledge and skill demands in working life. Empirical evidence remains limited on how these perceived acceleration experiences are associated with agency and meaning in life, particularly across urban and rural contexts. Using data from the 2024-2025 Chinese Social Mentality Survey, we analyzed 5178 employed adults (aged 18-45). Structural equation modeling and multi-group analyses were used to examine the associations among technological acceleration, acceleration of social change, sense of agency, and meaning in life. The results showed that both measured acceleration dimensions were positively associated with presence of meaning and search for meaning, and these associations were partially statistically mediated by sense of agency. Notably, acceleration of social change shows stronger associations with sense of agency and search for meaning among rural participants, whereas sense of agency is more strongly associated with presence of meaning among urban participants. These findings suggest that the two measured dimensions of perceived acceleration in working life are not necessarily associated with lower meaning in life among employed young adults. Instead, they may be linked to meaning in life partly through sense of agency, highlighting the importance of considering urban-rural contexts.