Within‐person variability in daily purpose moderates the association between trait purpose and adolescent adjustment

Purpose is a developmental asset in adolescence, yet little is known about how stability in this sense shapes its benefits. This study examined whether within-person fluctuations in daily sense of purpose moderate links between trait purpose and youth adjustment. Adolescents (N = 321, M[SD]_age = 16.14[1.17]) completed baseline surveys of trait purpose and Big Five personality, followed by ~70 daily assessments of purpose, well-being, self-esteem, and self-concept clarity. Purpose variability was indexed in two ways: using intraindividual standard deviations (iSD; variability) and mean square successive differences (iMSSD; instability). A greater trait purpose was, in general, more strongly associated with positive adjustment among adolescents, exhibiting less daily variability. Effects generally persisted after controlling for demographics and personality, suggesting that sensing purpose consistently, not just intensely, corresponds with adolescent adjustment.