SELF-HARM AMONG TURKISH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: THE ROLE OF MEANING IN LIFE

Abstract

Background: Emerging adulthood is an important developmental period of young adult identity development (Arnett, 1998). During this period the search for mean-ing in life takes greater salience and has been found to relate with many develop-mental outcomes (Krok, 2018). Objective: This study examined the role of emerg-ing adult meaning in life as a predictor of psychological well-being and self-harm behaviors in a sample of female emerging adults in Turkey. Methods: Non-random convenience sampling generated a sample of 275 participants Each participant re-ported on adulthood status, self-harm behaviors, autonomy, psychological well-being (stress, depression, anxiety) and meaning in life. Results: There were three main findings. 1. Self-defined adulthood status was not predictive of well-being or meaning in life but was associated with autonomy. 2. Meaning in life exhibited a positive relationship with self-injury, and a negative relationship with autonomy and well-being. Conclusions: Meaning in life is interpreted within the Turkish cultural context and it is suggested that the search for meaning may lead to distress and low-er-levels of well-being among emerging adults, whereas the fulfillment of meaning has the opposite effect (Frankl, 1955).