Date of Award

12-12-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology

First Advisor

William Buhrow

Second Advisor

Elliott Lawless

Third Advisor

Luann Foster

Abstract

While meaning in life (MIL) has been established as a significant contributor to psychologists’ understanding of wellbeing (Pollet & Schnell, 2017; Steger et al., 2008; Steger et al., 2011), some theorists believe MIL to be the fundamental human drive (Frankl, 1946/1962). Despite the significance that has been placed on MIL as a core component of human existence, little research has explored more than one variable at a time in relationship to MIL. Recent literature has explored self-determination theory’s (SDT) basic psychological needs microtheory as a predictive model for understanding MIL within a greater context of positive psychology (Martela et al., 2018). This study sought to replicate and expand upon the proposed SDT model

of MIL by including trait variables such as self-compassion and religiosity/spirituality. Self- compassion has been established as related to or predictive of MIL independently (Bercovich et

al., 2020; O’Dea et al., 2022; Pollet & Schnell, 2017; Saiz et al., 2021; Suh & Chong, 2022; Vötter & Schnell, 2019; Yu & Chang, 2020). Similarly, religiosity and spirituality have been established as having an independent relationship with MIL and wellbeing (Steger & Frazier, 2005). This study found that while several of SDT’s basic psychological needs contributed predictive power to the model, Martela’s proposed model was not replicated among this sample. Additionally, the results indicate that the inclusion of self-compassion and a measure of religiosity/spirituality improved the overall predictive model while reducing the effect of the basic psychological needs.

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