Abstract
Which value-related perspective better aligns with the search for meaning: individualism or collectivism? We explored the impact of group individualism or collectivism and attitude toward meaning on the relationship between the search for and the presence of meaning among individuals. Thus, three studies were conducted: one correlation study and two behavioral experiments. In Study 1, 638 Chinese participants completed questionnaires on meaning in life, horizontal and vertical individualism and collectivism, and attitude toward meaning. Attitude toward meaning had some effect on the relationship between meaning searching and meaning presence among individualistic group members and a significant moderating effect among collectivistic group members. Next, to clarify the role of attitudes in this relationship, Study 2 (N = 180) compared individual attitudes toward meaning-seeking and meaning-existing stories, revealing that the Chinese participants had a more positive attitude toward the latter. In Study 3 (N = 499) we further compared the attitudes of participants in the individualist and collectivist groups toward stories of not searching, meaning-seeking failure, meaning-seeking success, and the ongoing search for meaning after finding it. The results showed that participants in the individualist group had a more positive attitude toward not searching for meaning, while those in the collectivist group endorsed meaning-seeking and continued search for meaning after finding it. These results illustrate for the first time that the attitude toward the search for meaning is affected not only by a collectivist or individualist country’s mainstream culture but also by each person’s preference for individualist or collectivist values.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The data sets analyzed in this study are available by contacting the corresponding authors.
References
Aygün, Z. K., & Imamoğlu, E. O. (2002). Value domains of Turkish adults and university students. Journal of Social Psychology, 142(3), 333–351. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224540209603903
Boyraz, G., Lightsey, O. R., Jr., & Can, A. (2013). The Turkish version of the meaning in life questionnaire: Assessing the measurement invariance across Turkish and American adult samples. Journal of Personality Assessment, 95(4), 423–431. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2013.765882
Cai, H., Huang, Z., Lin, L., Zhang, M., Wang, X., Zhu, H., Xie, Y., Yang, Y., Yang, Z., & Jing, Y. (2020). The psychological change of the Chinese people over the past half century: A literature review. Advances in Psychological Science, 28(10), 1599–1688. https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1042.2020.01599
Chasson, M., Ben-Yaakov, O., & Taubman-Ben-Ari, O. (2021). Meaning in life among new mothers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of mothers’ marital satisfaction and perception of the infant. Journal of Happiness Studies, 22(8), 3499–3512. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-021-00378-1
Chen, Q., Wang, X. Q., He, X. X., Ji, L. J., Liu, M. F., & Ye, B. J. (2021). The relationship between search for meaning in life and symptoms of depression and anxiety: Key roles of the presence of meaning in life and life events among Chinese adolescents. Journal of Affective Disorders, 282, 545–553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.12.156
Chu, S.T.-W., & Fung, H.H.-L. (2021). Is the search for meaning related to the presence of meaning? Moderators of the longitudinal relationship. Journal of Happiness Studies, 22(1), 127–145. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-020-00222-y
Cohen, K., & Cairns, D. (2012). Is searching for meaning in life associated with reduced subjective well-being? Confirmation and possible moderators. Journal of Happiness Studies, 13(2), 313–331. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-011-9265-7
Cukur, C. S., De Guzman, M. R. T., & Carlo, G. (2004). Religiosity, values, and horizontal and vertical individualism-collectivism: A study of Turkey, the United States, and the Philippines. Journal of Social Psychology, 144(6), 613–634. https://doi.org/10.3200/SOCP.144.6.613-634
Dakin, B. C., Laham, S. M., Tan, N.P.-J., & Bastian, B. (2021). Searching for meaning is associated with costly prosociality. PLoS ONE, 16(10), e0258769. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258769
Dezutter, J., Waterman, A. S., Schwartz, S. J., Luyckx, K., Beyers, W., Meca, A., Kim, S. Y., Whitbourne, S. K., Zamboanga, B. L., Lee, R. M., Hardy, S. A., Forthun, L. F., Ritchie, R. A., Weisskirch, R. S., Brown, E. J., & Caraway, S. J. (2014). Meaning in life in emerging adulthood: A person-oriented approach. Journal of Personality, 82(1), 57–68. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12033
Dezutter, J., Luyckx, K., & Wachholtz, A. (2015). Meaning in life in chronic pain patients over time: Associations with pain experience and psychological well-being. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 38(2), 384–396. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-014-9614-1
Fan, G., Zhao, J., Zhang, K., Wang, Y., & Kang, T. (2022). The consistency of self-reference and mother reference in social evaluation. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 50(10), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.11650
Fischer, I. C., Secinti, E., Cemalcilar, Z., & Rand, K. L. (2021). Examining cross-cultural relationships between meaning in life and psychological well-being in Turkey and the United States. Journal of Happiness Studies, 22(3), 1341–1358. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-020-00275-z
Fung, H. H., Ho, Y. W., Zhang, R., Zhang, X., Noels, K. A., & Tam, K. P. (2016). Age differences in personal values: Universal or cultural specific? Psychology and Aging, 31(3), 274–286. https://doi.org/10.1037/pag0000082
Gorlova, N., Romanyuk, L., Vanbrabant, L., & Van De Schoot, R. (2012). Meaning-in-life orientations and values in youth: Cross-cultural comparison. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 9(6), 744–750. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405629.2012.689823
Greenfield, P. M. (2014). Sociodemographic differences within countries produce variable cultural values. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 45(1), 37–41. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022113513402
Heintzelman, S. J., & King, L. A. (2014). Life is pretty meaningful. American Psychologist, 69(6), 561–574. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035049
Hofstede, G. (1984). Culture’s consequences: International differences in work-related values (Vol. 5). Sage.
Huang, M., & Yang, F. (2023). Self-transcendence or self-enhancement: People’s perceptions of meaning and happiness in relation to the self. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 152(2), 590–610. https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0001297
Huo, J. Y., Wang, X. Q., Steger, M. F., Ge, Y., Wang, Y. C., Liu, M. F., & Ye, B. J. (2020). Implicit meaning in life: The assessment and construct validity of implicit meaning in life and relations with explicit meaning in life and depression. Journal of Positive Psychology, 15(4), 500–518. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2019.1639793
Huo, J. Y., Wang, X. Q., Ge, Y., Wang, Y. C., Hu, X. Y., Liu, M. F., & Ye, B. J. (2021). Chinese college students’ ability to recognize facial expressions based on their meaning-in-life profiles: An eye-tracking study. Journal of Personality, 89(3), 514–530. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12596
Jin, Y., He, M., & Li, J. (2016). The relationship between meaning in life and subjective well-being in China: A meta-analysis. Advances in Psychological Science, 24(12), 1854. https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1042.2016.01854
King, L. A., & Hicks, J. A. (2021). The science of meaning in life. Annual Review of Psychology, 72, 561–584. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-072420-122921
Li, Z., Zhao, M., Liu, H., Liu, Y., & Peng, K. (2018). The cause of search for meaning in life: Life affirming or deficit correcting. Advances in Psychological Science, 26(12), 2192–2203. https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1042.2018.02192
Li, F., Jiao, R., Liu, D., & Yin, H. (2021a). Career calling and gratitude trait in kindergarten teachers: A cross-lagged analysis. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 19(6), 824–830. https://psybeh.tjnu.edu.cn/EN/Y2021/V19/I6/824
Li, J.-B., Dou, K., & Liang, Y. (2021b). The relationship between presence of meaning, search for meaning, and subjective well-being: A three-level meta-analysis based on the meaning in life questionnaire. Journal of Happiness Studies, 22(1), 467–489. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-020-00230-y
Lin, L., Wang, S., & Li, J. (2021). Association between the search for meaning in life and well-being in Chinese adolescents. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 16(6), 2291–2309. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-021-09913-x
Newman, D. B., Nezlek, J. B., & Thrash, T. M. (2018). The dynamics of searching for meaning and presence of meaning in daily life. Journal of Personality, 86(3), 368–379. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12321
Noguchi, K. (2020). The meaning frame theory: Meaning arises with reference points. Journal of Happiness Studies, 21(8), 3121–3141. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00208-5
Park, C. L. (2010). Making sense of the meaning literature: An integrative review of meaning making and its effects on adjustment to stressful life events. Psychological Bulletin, 136(2), 257–301. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018301
Prinzing, M., De Freitas, J., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2022). The ordinary concept of a meaningful life: The role of subjective and objective factors in third-person attributions of meaning. Journal of Positive Psychology, 17(5), 639–654. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2021.1897866
Prinzing, M., Le Nguyen, K., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2023). Does shared positivity make life more meaningful? Perceived positivity resonance is uniquely associated with perceived meaning in life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology [advance Online Publication], 125(2), 345–366. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000418
Santos, H. C., Varnum, M. E. W., & Grossmann, I. (2017). Global increases in individualism. Psychological Science, 28(9), 1228–1239. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797617700622
Singh, K., Junnarkar, M., Jaswal, S., & Kaur, J. (2016). Validation of meaning in life questionnaire in Hindi (MLQ-H). Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 19(5), 448–458. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2016.1189759
Steger, M. F., Frazier, P., Oishi, S., & Kaler, M. (2006). The meaning in life questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(1), 80–93. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.53.1.80
Steger, M. F., Kashdan, T. B., Sullivan, B. A., & Lorentz, D. (2008a). Understanding the search for meaning in life: Personality, cognitive style, and the dynamic between seeking and experiencing meaning. Journal of Personality, 76(2), 199–228. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2007.00484.x
Steger, M. F., Kawabata, Y., Shimai, S., & Otake, K. (2008b). The meaningful life in Japan and the United States: Levels and correlates of meaning in life. Journal of Research in Personality, 42(3), 660–678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2007.09.003
Sun, J., & Wang, X. (2010). Value differences between generations in China: A study in Shanghai. Journal of Youth Studies, 13(1), 65–81. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676260903173462
Triandis, H. C. (2018). Individualism and collectivism. Routledge.
Triandis, H. C., & Gelfand, M. J. (1998). Converging measurement of horizontal and vertical individualism and collectivism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74(1), 118–128. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.74.1.118
Van Tongeren, D. R., DeWall, C. N., Green, J. D., Cairo, A. H., Davis, D. E., & Hook, J. N. (2018). Self-regulation facilitates meaning in life. Review of General Psychology, 22(1), 95–106. https://doi.org/10.1037/gpr0000121
Wang, T., Jia, Y., You, X. Q., & Huang, X. T. (2021). Exploring well-being among individuals with different life purposes in a Chinese context. Journal of Positive Psychology, 16(1), 60–72. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2019.1663253
Xin-qiang, W., Xiao-xin, H., Fan, Y., & Da-jun, Z. (2016). Structure and levels of meaning in life and its relationship with mental health in Chinese students aged 10 to 25. Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology, 10, e10. https://doi.org/10.1017/prp.2016.7
Yu, E. A., & Chang, E. C. (2018). Parent–child closeness and parents’ meaning in life in personal meaning in life: Examining ethnic differences. Family Journal, 26(3), 300–305. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480718795122
Zhang, H., Sang, Z., Chan, D.K.-S., Teng, F., Liu, M., Yu, S., & Tian, Y. (2016). Sources of meaning in life among Chinese university students. Journal of Happiness Studies, 17(4), 1473–1492. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-015-9653-5
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 322QN242).
Funding
This work was supported by Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 322QN242).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Xiaobin Ding and Xiyun Zhong were responsible for designing the experiment, writing and revising the manuscript, while Xiyun Zhong, Tiejun Kang, Yuetan Wang and Juanjuan Li were responsible for collecting the data and analyzing the results.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval
The Northwest Normal University Research Ethics Board approved all the experimental procedures in Studies 1, 2, and 3.
Consent to participate
All participants provided verbal and written informed consent. They were allowed to withdraw at any time.
Consent to publish
The authors affirm that human research participants provided informed consent for publication of the images in Figure(s) 1a and 1b.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Ding, X., Zhong, X., Kang, T. et al. Individualism vs. collectivism: influences on attitudes in china toward the search for meaning in life. Curr Psychol 43, 14738–14750 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05482-4
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05482-4