Meaning in life among Korean college students based on emotionality and tolerance of uncertainty

- Processes of searching for and finding meaning in life are related to personality.
- The presence of and search for meaning are positively correlated among Koreans.
- Emotionally stable people report high meaning-seeking and meaning discovery.
- A moderate uncertainty tolerance is related to high meaning-seeking and discovery.

This study examines different associations between the search for meaning in life (MLQ-S) and the presence of meaning in life (MLQ-P) based on sub-groups of emotionality and tolerance of uncertainty, respectively. Korean college student participants' self-reported survey responses were used in the study (N = 348; 64.8% female; MAge = 21.6 years old). The results indicated that MLQ-S is positively correlated with MLQ-P in all levels of emotionality groups (Low, Average, and High emotionality) and the Average uncertainty tolerance group. Findings also suggested that MLQ-S was higher in Low emotionality than High emotionality; and MLQ-S was higher in the High uncertainty tolerance group than Low and Average uncertainty tolerance groups. The High uncertainty tolerance group reported the highest MLQ-P, and the Low uncertainty tolerance group reported the lowest MLQ-P. Findings highlight the importance of emotional stability and moderate levels of uncertainty tolerance in intervening clients' meaning seeking and meaning finding processes.