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Date of Award

Summer 2024

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Department or Program Affiliation

Psychology

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Lehman, Barbara J.

Second Advisor

Smith, Aaron J.,

Third Advisor

Scollon, Christie Napa

Abstract

This thesis investigates the potential for studying meaning-centered constructs on a daily basis and considers how meaning-centered measures may complement existing models for understanding the dynamics of daily stress, affect, and coping.

As part of a week-long protocol, participants (N = 138) provided daily reports (N = 917) of their coping behaviors, perceived meaning in life, affect, stress, and perceived coping competence. These data were collected via a combination of widely adopted (e.g., the MIL-Q, Brief COPE, and PANAS-SF) and ad hoc measures (including an original 6-item assessment of daily stress and 4-item measure of perceived coping competence).

Results of multi-level modeling indicated that the degree of day-to-day variability observed in participants' reported meaning-having and meaning-seeking were on-par with the levels of variability observed in participants’ daily affect and coping behavior. The results of a separate series of analyses suggested that meaning-having was as strong a predictor of same-day positive affect as stress or coping, and among the strongest predictors of both same-day negative affect and perceived coping competence.

As such, the existing literature on meaning-in-life, which is typically based on data collected via retrospective reporting alone, may benefit from greater integration of daily/momentary assessments. Additionally, those already employing daily assessments in the study of coping dynamics may benefit from adding measures of meaning-having to their repertoire.

Type

Text

Keywords

Meaning in life, Stress, Coping, Affect, Emotion, Daily measurement

Publisher

Western Washington University

OCLC Number

1456566254

Subject – LCSH

Meaning (Psychology); Adjustment (Psychology); Stress (Psychology); Affect (Psychology); Emotions

Format

application/pdf

Genre/Form

masters theses

Language

English

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

Rights Statement

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

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