Need for meaning and its relationship to experienced meaning and psychological health

Despite the vast array of theory and research supporting the positive relationship between experienced meaning in life and psychological health, the literature fails to address that not all persons may need meaning in their lives. Therefore, the current study investigated need for meaning in life as a separate measure from experienced meaning in life. The relationships between need for meaning, experienced meaning, and psychological health were explored. The relationships between meaning and key demographic variables were also investigated. Finally, an analysis was performed to evaluate internal consistency of the Need for Meaning Scale.; A sample of 83 individuals, 41 from a community mental-health clinic and 42 from a psychology doctoral program, completed three self-report Likert-type scales and a demographic questionnaire. Data was analyzed using simple and multiple regression analyses, and through a series of MANOVAs.; Contrary to what was predicted, there is no relationship between need for meaning (measured by the Need for Meaning Scale) and psychological health (measured by the General Well-Being Scale), with or without experienced meaning (measured by the Life Regard Index-Revised) as a mediating variable. However, Framework (a subscale of the Life Regard Index-Revised that measures the pursuit of meaningful life goals) is significantly related to need for meaning and psychological health, and is a mediating variable. There is also a significant relationship between need for meaning and spiritual practice. Finally, high internal consistency reliability was established for the Need for Meaning Scale that suggests this construct is homogeneous.