What is it we are longing for? Psychological and demographic factors influencing the contents of Sehnsucht (life longings)

Life longings (Sehnsucht) – defined as intense desires for ideal states of life that are remote or unattainable – reflect individuals’ search for happiness and meaning and their struggle to cope with losses and unrealizable wishes. What do people think will make them feel happy? Do the sources of happiness and meaning change across adulthood, or differ by gender and education? In six studies, 1316 participants aged 18–81 years listed their most important life longings. Raters coded these into one of 12 life domains. Most life longings evolved around family, partnership, and personal characteristics. Strong desire for change increased the likelihood of mentioning life longings in some domains. Theory-consistent differences emerged between age groups, men and women, and less and more educated persons.