College is a transitional period from adolescence to adulthood and student life to professional life. Students explore their independence and personal identities while building their own value systems during this time.
However, the complex college environment and busy schedules can make students feel busy but lacking in meaning, leading to anxiety, confusion, and disorientation. Many lose interest in life, feel insignificant, and some even engage in self-harm or suicidal behaviors.
A study suggested that the leading cause of college students’ psychological issues is a lack of meaning in life. A sense of meaning is crucial for well-being and mental health, helping individuals cope with challenges and maintain a positive outlook.
Studies have shown that many factors, like the environment and personal interactions, can impact a person’s sense of meaning. However, fewer studies have examined the role of culture in this experience.
A new study – led by Man Leng from the School of Psychology, Fujian Normal University – explored how cultural identity affects college students’ sense of meaning in life. The study included 974 Chinese college students and used structural equation modeling and network analysis to examine the connection between cultural identity and meaning in life and the roles of perceived social support and resilience.
The results show that cultural identity positively affects college students’ sense of meaning in life. Additionally, perceived social support and resilience play a mediating role in this relationship.
The sense of meaning in life is strongly shaped by culture
People from different cultures use language systems filled with cultural meanings to communicate and make sense of the world. Language carries cultural heritage, passing down concepts through generations. Individuals learn and absorb these cultural meanings during socialization.
When evaluating the real meaning of life, people use these linguistic symbols to connect their purposes and values to cultural meanings. Thus, a person’s sense of meaning is closely tied to the cultural identity formed within their linguistic environment.
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Cultural identity and meaning in life
What is a sense of meaning in life? It’s the way one views the world; who are we? Where did we come from? Where are we going? What are we going to do to make ourselves better?
It’s people’s thoughts on the meaning of their lives. Philosophers argue that life’s meaning comes from our actions, attitudes, and the ability to pursue and realize values. Our consciousness allows us to think about what gives meaning to our actions.
Social identity has been shown to predict meaning in life positively. According to social identity theory, people tend to identify with a group to build self-esteem, enhance thinking, and fulfill the need to belong.
Cultural identity is considered the most important and universal level of social identity. It reflects an individual’s sense of belonging to a cultural group and includes identification with the group’s emotions and behaviors.
Research suggests that cultural identity may be key to seeking meaning in collectivist cultures.
Cultural identity strengthens social bonds. It helps people understand their sense of belonging to a group, fosters emotional connections, and clarifies self-identity while embracing cultural values. This integration into social networks is essential.
People with a strong cultural identity are better at forming emotional connections with peers from similar backgrounds, making it easier for them to seek and receive emotional and practical support.
Research objectives
Based on the above analysis, this study aims to verify the following research objectives and hypotheses:
- To explore the direct positive impact of cultural identity on the sense of meaning in life among Chinese university students.
- To investigate the mediating role of perceived social support in the relationship between cultural identity and the sense of meaning in life.
- To explore the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between cultural identity and the sense of meaning in life.
- To verify the chain mediation effect of perceived social support and resilience.
Researchers used structural equation modeling (SEM) and network analysis to study the relationships between cultural identity, perceived social support, resilience, and sense of meaning in life among college students.
The study, which included 974 participants with an average age of nearly 20, found that cultural identity greatly affects how students find meaning in their lives. Perceived social support and resilience are crucial in this connection.
The authors noted, “These results highlight the crucial role of cultural identity in shaping the sense of meaning in life among university students. This can help higher education institutions emphasize and cultivate students’ cultural identity in mental health education, ultimately enhancing their sense of meaning in life and overall mental health.”
Participants answered questions about their social status and yearly family income.
The authors noted, “The results supported our hypothesis that perceived social support and resilience mediate the impact of cultural identity on students’ sense of meaning in life. Specifically, cultural identity significantly indirectly affected meaning in life through perceived social support.”
The study found that cultural identity positively influences university students’ sense of meaning in life. This is especially important in collectivist societies. The results show that perceived social support helps explain how cultural identity impacts meaning in life. Strong cultural identity enhances group belonging and fosters positive social interactions.
Resilience also plays a role, indicating that cultural identity helps individuals find meaning by building resilience. Cultural identity provides psychological support and shapes how people cope with challenges, drawing on traditional wisdom and collective values.
Perceived social support and resilience link cultural identity to meaning in life for university students. Cultural identity enhances social support, which then strengthens resilience and helps students find meaning in life.
This study uniquely shows that cultural identity indirectly boosts resilience through increased social support, enriching our understanding of cultural psychology.
Authors noted, “Practically, this study offers new approaches to mental health interventions for university students. Culturally themed activities, such as festival celebrations or customs-sharing events, can strengthen cultural identity, while peer support programs, like storytelling groups or collaborative tasks, reinforce social networks.”
Journal Reference:
- Zhou, S., Jiang, L., Li, W. et al. Meaning in life from a cultural perspective: the role of cultural identity, perceived social support, and resilience among Chinese college students. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 12, 91 (2025). DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-04424-8
