Which values help you feel good? Discover the role of life's meaning

The age range between 18 and 29 is often called "emerging adulthood": a phase of experimentation, uncertainty, and transition from adolescence to full adulthood. Researchers examined how growth‑oriented values – especially openness to change and self‑transcendence – affect the psychological well‑being of young adults, and whether a sense of meaning in life acts as a bridge.\n\nTwo hundred participants (average age 22) completed three questionnaires: one on psychological well‑being, one on meaning in life (measuring both presence of meaning and search for it), and one on personal values. All factors – well‑being, presence of meaning, search for meaning, openness to change, and self‑transcendence – were positively correlated. In practice, those more willing to change and to think about the common good tend to perceive their lives as more meaningful, which in turn is linked to higher well‑being.\n\nInterestingly, the mere search for meaning (the desire to find it) did not mediate the link between values and well‑being. So, simply looking for meaning isn’t enough; the awareness of actually having it makes the difference.\n\nThese findings suggest that fostering openness and altruistic values can help young people build a sense of purpose, boosting their emotional balance. Future studies should explore whether these effects persist over time or whether well‑being influences the values we choose to nurture.

The study relied on the Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ), an internationally validated tool for assessing values according to Schwartz's value theory. Openness to change includes dimensions such as stimulation, freedom, and autonomy, while self‑transcendence groups together benevolence and universalism. Both dimensions are classified as growth values, meaning they are oriented toward personal and collective improvement.\n\nThe Psychological Well‑Being Scales (PWBS) measure six dimensions: autonomy, personal growth, positive relations, purpose in life, environmental mastery, and self‑acceptance. Presence of meaning was assessed with the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), which distinguishes between "presence of meaning" (how meaningful life feels) and "search for meaning" (motivation to find meaning).\n\nMultiple regression analyses showed that presence of meaning partially mediated the effect of openness to change (β = 0.22) and self‑transcendence (β = 0.20) on psychological well‑being, with confidence intervals excluding zero, confirming statistical significance. In contrast, search for meaning did not show a significant mediating effect, suggesting that merely aspiring to find meaning is insufficient to translate into well‑being without a concrete perception of meaning.\n\nNeurobiologically, openness to change is linked to increased activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, involved in cognitive flexibility and long‑term goal planning. Self‑transcendence activates limbic circuits and the default mode network, associated with empathy and self‑referential processes. Presence of meaning appears to involve the insula and anterior cingulate, regions tied to interoceptive awareness and emotional evaluation of one's life state.\n\nThese findings support theoretical models that view values as motivational drivers that, through the construction of a sense of purpose, influence mental health. However, the cross‑sectional nature of the study prevents establishing causality: higher well‑being might also foster the adoption of more pro‑social values. Longitudinal studies and experimental interventions aimed at enhancing openness to change and self‑transcendence could clarify the direction of these effects and provide practical guidance for mental‑health education programs for young adults.