This study aimed to examine the mediating effect of meaning in life on the relationship between self-awareness and depression as well as psychological well-being among university students. Based on previous studies and relevant theoretical frameworks,...
This study aimed to examine the mediating effect of meaning in life on the relationship between self-awareness and depression as well as psychological well-being among university students. Based on previous studies and relevant theoretical frameworks, a research model was established. To test the proposed model, data were collected from 420 undergraduate students enrolled in four-year universities across South Korea. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS and the PROCESS Macro.
First, differences in self-awareness, meaning in life, depression, and psychological well-being according to gender and academic year were examined. The results indicated that there were no significant gender differences in self-awareness or depression. However, meaning in life and psychological well-being were found to be significantly lower among female students compared to male students. At the subfactor level, female students scored higher than male students on positive affect, a subfactor of depression. Given that this variable was reverse-coded, this result indicates that female students experienced lower levels of positive affect than male students. Meanwhile, no significant differences were found among the major variables according to academic year.
Next, correlation analyses among the major variables revealed that self-awareness showed moderate positive correlations with meaning in life and psychological well-being, and a weak negative correlation with depression. Meaning in life was moderately positively correlated with psychological well-being and moderately negatively correlated with depression. Finally, psychological well-being demonstrated a moderate negative correlation with depression. Except for the relationship between self-awareness and depression, all major variables exhibited moderate correlations with one another.
The main findings of the study are discussed as follows. First, meaning in life partially mediated the relationship between self-awareness and psychological well-being among university students. This finding suggests that higher levels of self-awareness contribute to enhanced psychological well-being when individuals perceive their lives as meaningful and actively seek meaning in life.
Second, meaning in life fully mediated the relationship between self-awareness and depression. This result indicates that self-awareness did not exert a significant direct effect on depression; rather, self-awareness was associated with reduced levels of depression only through its influence on meaning in life.
Based on these findings, the present study sought to empirically identify the relationships among intrapersonal variables influencing depression and psychological well-being in university students, thereby providing evidence for important factors to consider when aiming to reduce depression or enhance psychological well-being in this population. The results offer two major implications. First, when designing counseling or preventive intervention programs targeting depression and psychological well-being among university students, it may be effective to develop gender-specific counseling strategies. Given that female students exhibited relatively lower levels of meaning in life and psychological well-being, the findings suggest that interventions focusing on life direction, roles, and personal values may be particularly beneficial for female students.
Second, when developing programs aimed at enhancing psychological well-being among university students, it may be effective to incorporate both self-awareness-based approaches and strategies to promote meaning in life. Moreover, in designing programs for the prevention and reduction of depression, the importance of integrating meaning in life alongside self-awareness is further emphasized. The present study is significant in that it empirically demonstrates that counseling interventions may be less effective if meaning in life is not adequately considered.