Several studies (Bronk, Hill, Lapsl

Several studies (Bronk, Hill, Lapsley, Talib, & Finch, 2009;
Steger et al., 2009) found that people at later life stages generally
reported a greater presence of meaning in their lives,
whereas those at earlier life stages reported higher levels of
searching for meaning. Also, although searching for meaning
might be associated with significantly less well-being in later
life, it might be normative or even adaptive in earlier life stages
(Park, Park, & Peterson, 2010; Steger et al., 2009).
A promising approach to determining the possible psychological
and cultural conditions for finding meaning in various life
domains is self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000;
Ryan & Deci, 2000), which posits three basic psychological
needs: competence, relatedness, and autonomy. Competence
is control of outcome and experiencing mastery; relatedness
is being connected to and interacting with others, as well as
experiencing caring for others; autonomy is being the causal
agent of one’s actions and decisions, and acting in accordance
with one’s central well-internalized values and authentic or
integrated self. Satisfying these three needs has proven closely
related to self-fulfillment and finding meaning in life (Ryan &
Deci, 2000; Weinstein, Ryan, & Deci, 2012). Relatedness is a
central and unique domain of action—that with other people
but is not confined to committed romantic relations or to marriage.
Competence and autonomy are even more unbound and
can be experienced in a variety of domains and realms. We suggest
that to find life that is meaningful for them, emerging
adults will invest in domains that allow them to feel related,
competent, and autonomous in such contexts. Autonomy,
which allows the young to act in accordance with their true
or authentic self, is especially central. Other scholars used the
term agency to refer to similar processes in forging one’s identity
(Schwartz et al., 2005).
Weinstein, Ryan, and Deci (2012) further suggest that only
life meanings that contribute to satisfaction of the three basic
needs (i.e., intrinsic aspirations and life goals) may be expected
to foster eudemonic well-being. Furthermore, relatedness,
competence, and autonomy may be psychological and environmental
nutrients to engage successfully in finding life meaning.
Social and cultural contexts which do not help to satisfy these
needs could therefore impede success in finding one’s purpose
and meaning in life.