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Purpose in life as an asset for well-being and a protective factor against depression in adolescents

Barcaccia, Barbara ; Couyoumdjian, Alessandro ; Di Consiglio, Micaela ; Papa, Carolina ; Ganucci Cancellieri, Uberta and Cervin, Matti LU (2023) In Frontiers in Psychology 14.
Abstract
Purpose in life, which is a central component of the eudaimonic paradigm of well-being, has been sparsely examined in adolescence. This is unfortunate as adolescence is characterised by identity development and is a key period for the onset of mental disorders. To inform future research on well-being and purpose in life in adolescents, we drew factors from several fields of research, including mental health and psychological factors, and explored which factors were most strongly associated with purpose in life. Data were collected in a sample of 444 Italian adolescents (Mage = 16.30 [SD = 1.50], range: 14 to 20 years; 58% girls) and associations with mental health (stress, anxiety, depression, anger), psychological traits (mindfulness,... (More)
Purpose in life, which is a central component of the eudaimonic paradigm of well-being, has been sparsely examined in adolescence. This is unfortunate as adolescence is characterised by identity development and is a key period for the onset of mental disorders. To inform future research on well-being and purpose in life in adolescents, we drew factors from several fields of research, including mental health and psychological factors, and explored which factors were most strongly associated with purpose in life. Data were collected in a sample of 444 Italian adolescents (Mage = 16.30 [SD = 1.50], range: 14 to 20 years; 58% girls) and associations with mental health (stress, anxiety, depression, anger), psychological traits (mindfulness, self-hate, self-inadequacy, self-reassurance, isolation), and sociodemographic variables (age, sex, place of birth) were examined. Regression, dominance, and network analyses indicated that a stronger sense of purpose in life was associated with lower depressive symptoms, higher levels of self-reassurance, and being born in Italy. Our findings suggest that purpose in life is an important asset for well-being in adolescents and may protect against depression. Future longitudinal and/or experimental research should examine the potential protective role of purpose in life in relation to adolescent depression and how self-reassurance and sociodemographic factors (e.g., immigrant background) are involved. (Less)
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author
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organization
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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Frontiers in Psychology
volume
14
article number
1250279.
publisher
Frontiers Media S. A.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85173643884
  • pmid:37829070
ISSN
1664-1078
DOI
10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1250279
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
3e761934-7cef-489b-aaec-31c1f2d756b5
date added to LUP
2023-10-17 08:44:17
date last changed
2024-01-17 03:01:11
@article{3e761934-7cef-489b-aaec-31c1f2d756b5,
  abstract     = {{Purpose in life, which is a central component of the eudaimonic paradigm of well-being, has been sparsely examined in adolescence. This is unfortunate as adolescence is characterised by identity development and is a key period for the onset of mental disorders. To inform future research on well-being and purpose in life in adolescents, we drew factors from several fields of research, including mental health and psychological factors, and explored which factors were most strongly associated with purpose in life. Data were collected in a sample of 444 Italian adolescents (Mage = 16.30 [SD = 1.50], range: 14 to 20 years; 58% girls) and associations with mental health (stress, anxiety, depression, anger), psychological traits (mindfulness, self-hate, self-inadequacy, self-reassurance, isolation), and sociodemographic variables (age, sex, place of birth) were examined. Regression, dominance, and network analyses indicated that a stronger sense of purpose in life was associated with lower depressive symptoms, higher levels of self-reassurance, and being born in Italy. Our findings suggest that purpose in life is an important asset for well-being in adolescents and may protect against depression. Future longitudinal and/or experimental research should examine the potential protective role of purpose in life in relation to adolescent depression and how self-reassurance and sociodemographic factors (e.g., immigrant background) are involved.}},
  author       = {{Barcaccia, Barbara and Couyoumdjian, Alessandro and Di Consiglio, Micaela and Papa, Carolina and Ganucci Cancellieri, Uberta and Cervin, Matti}},
  issn         = {{1664-1078}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  publisher    = {{Frontiers Media S. A.}},
  series       = {{Frontiers in Psychology}},
  title        = {{Purpose in life as an asset for well-being and a protective factor against depression in adolescents}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1250279}},
  doi          = {{10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1250279}},
  volume       = {{14}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}