Untangling purpose: examining the nuanced influence of personal meaning and beyond-the-self orientation on youth mental health in unprecedented times

ABSTRACT

This modified sequential explanatory mixed methods study explores how the components of purpose (personal meaningfulness and a beyond-the-self orientation) impact youth mental health outcomes (depressive and anxiety symptoms) in the context of COVID-19. We hypothesized that youth with higher scores on the components of purpose (goal-directedness, personal meaningfulness, and beyond-the-self orientation) would be less likely to experience anxiety and depressive symptoms during COVID-19. We also explored in what ways youths’ descriptions of their own prosocial behavior align with the relation between purpose and mental health. Data are from two waves of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Building Evidence in Scouting Together study. Quantitative data are from 4,896 youth and a subsample of 94 youth completed qualitative personal communication Results indicate the personal meaning component of purpose is protective against depressive and anxiety symptoms. However, the beyond-the-self orientation of purpose is associated with higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms. In addition, differences were found between youth who reported higher and lower levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms, and personal meaning and a beyond-the-self orientation for the following themes: 1) Empathy for others, 2) Desire to change the situation, 3) Solutions to change the situation, 4) Helping at home, 5) Following health advice, and 6) Scouting-specific examples. Taken together, this study provides useful insights into how each component of purpose can uniquely promote or provide a buffer for depression and anxiety among youth.

KEYWORDS:

• Purpose
• out-of-school time
• prosocial behavior
• COVID-19
• mental health

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2024.2387345.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by a grant from the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation through a subaward from Boy Scouts of America [Grant #8325].