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Examining the Temporal Associations Between Religious Motivations and Meaning in Life: A Self-Determination
Karim Kerasha1, Hiroki Matsuo1, Karen K Melton1
1Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA.
Journal of Personality
|August 11, 2026
Summary
Internalized religious motivations influence meaning in life (MIL). Identified motivation positively predicts MIL, while external and introjected motivations negatively predict it over time in emerging adults.
Area of Science:
- Psychology of Religion
- Developmental Psychology
- Motivation Science
Background:
- Self-Determination Theory emphasizes internalized motivation for life meaning.
- Psychology of religion suggests internalized religious motivation is key for meaning in life (MIL).
- Longitudinal evidence linking religious motivation and MIL is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate temporal associations between religious practice motivations and MIL.
- To examine how external, introjected, and identified motivations relate to MIL over time.
- To provide longitudinal evidence for the role of internalized motivation in developing MIL.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study with 2056 emerging adults.
- Four measurement occasions over 1.5 years (6-month intervals).
- Three random-intercept cross-lagged panel models analyzed motivation types and MIL.
Main Results:
- Between-persons: Identified motivation positively associated with MIL; external/introjected negatively associated.
- Within-persons: External/introjected motivation negatively predicted subsequent MIL.
- Within-persons: Reciprocal effects found between identified motivation and MIL.
Conclusions:
- Different motivations for religious practices have distinct effects on MIL.
- Controlled motivations (external, introjected) can undermine MIL.
- Identified motivation shows a reciprocal relationship with MIL, promoting it over time.
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