The Relationship between Personal Growth Initiative and Personal Self‐Concept: The Double‐Edged Mediating Effect of Meaning in Life

ABSTRACT This study examined the relationship between personal growth initiative and personal self‐concept, investigating the mediating roles of the presence of meaning and search for meaning within a parallel mediation model, using a sample of 211 Romanian adults. Personal growth initiative was positively associated with both the presence of meaning and the search for meaning. The presence of meaning had a positive indirect effect on self‐concept ( β = 2.69, SE = 0.55, 95% CI [1.69, 3.83]), whereas the search for meaning had a negative indirect effect ( β = −0.85, SE = 0.32, 95% CI [−1.56, −0.28]). These findings suggest that while personal growth initiative may foster a stronger sense of self by enhancing the presence of meaning in life, an intensified search for meaning might indicate existential uncertainty, which could weaken an individual's self‐concept. The implications of these findings for counseling practice are further discussed.