Meaning in life, basic psychological needs, and subjective well-being: A Meta-Analytic Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Guided by the Eudaimonic Activity Model, this study examines how basic psychological needs (BPN) mediate the relationship between two dimensions of meaning: the presence of meaning (POM) and the search for meaning (SFM), and subjective well-being (SWB). Using Meta-Analytic Structural Equation Modeling (N = 50,552, k = 98), we tested a sequential mediation model investigating direct and indirect pathways. Findings show that SFM negatively predicted both BPN and SWB, with no statistically significant direct effect on POM. BPN positively predicted POM and SWB, and POM also positively predicted SWB, forming a serial mediation pathway from SFM to SWB via BPN and POM. Indirect effects through BPN and BPN-POM were statistically significant. Cultural moderation revealed that the negative effects of SFM on POM was significantly stronger in individualistic than collectivistic cultures. These findings highlight the importance of culturally responsive approaches to enhance well-being through meaning making and need satisfaction.