Meaning in Life Predicts Decreased Depressive Symptoms and Increased Positive Affect over Time but Does not Buffer Stress Effects in a National Sample of African-Americans

Crystal L. Park (), Cheryl L. Knott, Randi M. Williams, Eddie M. Clark, Beverly Rosa Williams and Emily Schulz
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Crystal L. Park: University of Connecticut
Cheryl L. Knott: University of Maryland
Randi M. Williams: Georgetown University
Eddie M. Clark: Saint Louis University
Beverly Rosa Williams: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Emily Schulz: Northern Arizona University - Phoenix Biomedical Campus

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2020, vol. 21, issue 8, No 14, 3037-3049

Abstract: Abstract Few studies have specifically focused on meaning in life in African Americans and many important questions remain, including whether effects of meaning in life are direct or moderated by levels of stress. In a national sample of 909 African Americans, we tested meaning in life as a prospective predictor of changes in depressive symptoms and positive affect over a 2.5-year period. Controlling for demographics and hassles, meaning in life predicted decreased depressive symptoms and increased positive affect across the span of 2.5 years. Moderation effects were not found for hassles, age, or income. Gender moderated the effect of meaning on positive affect such that effects were stronger for women than for men. These results suggest that, for African Americans, meaning in life appears to robustly protect against future depressive symptoms and promote positive affect over time unaffected by amount of stress experienced or most demographic factors.

Keywords: Meaning; Positive affect; Depressive mood; Moderation; Stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10902-019-00212-9

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