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Evidence is accumulating that demonstrates the important role of personal meaning in well-being and quality of life. This entry introduces a meaning-centered model of well-being consisting of three factors: positive affect, personal growth, and reduction of negativity.
A proper understanding of the relationship between meaning in life and well-being needs to distinguish between specific meaning and global meaning (Park & Folkman, 1997) and situational meaning and ultimate meaning (Frankl, 1985). In this entry, meaning in life is used interchangeably with meaning of life, encompassing both types of meaning.
Wong (1998) defines personal meaning as a socially and individually constructed system, which endows life with personal...
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Wong, P.T.P. (2014). Meaning in Life. In: Michalos, A.C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5_1755
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