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.