The impact of bullying and act variables on meaning in life for adolescents

Abstract

Research has shown that the experience of a meaningful life for adolescents is an aid in development and related to psychological health, physical health, and academic functioning (e.g., Brassai, Piko, & Steger, 2011; Kiang & Fuligni, 2009). Most meaning research to date, however, has primarily focused on adulthood, with few studies that focus on meaning in adolescence. Even fewer studies have addressed barriers or facilitators to experiencing meaning in adolescence. The current study seeks to address this gap in the literature with a sample of adolescents (n=145). In the first part of the study, bullying perpetration and victimization are examined as factors that may be associated with less meaning (i.e., inversely related). In the second part of the study, two Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) related variables, mindfulness and self-compassion, are examined as factors positively related to meaning. A hierarchical regression was then performed to determine if these variables predicted meaning. Results revealed that meaning was inversely related to bullying perpetration, but not bullying victimization, and positively related to mindfulness and self-compassion. Controlling for all other factors, self-compassion independently predicted meaning, which suggests that self-compassion may be highly relevant to an adolescent's development of meaning. Implications and future directions for research are discussed.