Survey Asks What Makes Life Meaningful

Survey Asks What Makes Life Meaningful | Engoo Daily News

Survey Asks What Makes Life Meaningful | Engoo Daily News

 

Article

Survey Asks What Makes Life Meaningful

What makes life meaningful is different for everyone, and research has found that this can depend on how old you are and where you live.

Pew Research Center did a survey of almost 2,600 people in the US in February 2021, and another of almost 16,300 people in 16 countries — including Germany, Japan and South Korea — from March to May 2021.

The survey participants were asked about which aspects of their lives they found meaningful.

Across all age groups, most survey participants said family gave meaning to their life.

For those aged 18 to 29, friends was the second most mentioned thing that made life meaningful, while their occupation was the third most mentioned.

Occupation was mentioned second most often by those aged 30 to 49 and 50 to 64. And for both of these age groups, material well-being — like having enough money to live comfortably — was third.

For those aged 65 and over, most said family gave their lives meaning, followed by material well-being and health.

The survey results were a little different depending on country. Most people in Japan, for example, said family gave their lives meaning. Material well-being was the second most mentioned, followed by health and occupation.

In South Korea, however, most people said material well-being made their life meaningful, while in Spain most people said health.

Wherever it comes from, having meaning in life is good for you. A 2014 study from University College London even found that people who felt their life had more meaning lived longer than those who felt it had less meaning.

 

Questions

 

1. How many people from the US were involved in the study?

 

1. A. 2,600
2. B. 16,300
   
   
   

2. For people aged 18 to 29, friends was the most mentioned thing that made life meaningful.

 

1. A. True
2. B. False

3. The survey results were the same in every country.

 

1. A. True
2. B. False 

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Discussion

 

1. What are your thoughts on the survey's findings?

 

 

2. Do you find it surprising that most participants named family as the most meaningful aspect of their life? Why? Why not?

3. What would you say are the most meaningful aspects of your life?

4. How have your opinions on what's important in life changed as you've gotten older?

5. What life advice would you give to your younger self?