Cited by 1,006Psychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionAging and Gerontology ResearchOptimism, Hope, and Well-being

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Some key differences between a happy life and a meaningful life

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Baumeister, Roy F., Vohs, Kathleen D., Aaker, Jennifer L., Garbinsky, Emily N.·2013·The Journal of Positive Psychology

DOI 10.1080/17439760.2013.830764

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Abstract

Being happy and finding life meaningful overlap, but there are important differences. A large survey revealed multiple differing predictors of happiness (controlling for meaning) and meaningfulness (controlling for happiness). Satisfying one’s needs and wants increased happiness but was largely irrelevant to meaningfulness. Happiness was largely present-oriented, whereas meaningfulness involves integrating past, present, and future. For example, thinking about future and past was associated with high meaningfulness but low happiness. Happiness was linked to being a taker rather than a giver, whereas meaningfulness went with being a giver rather than a taker. Higher levels of worry, stress, and anxiety were linked to higher meaningfulness but lower happiness. Concerns with personal identity and expressing the self-contributed to meaning but not happiness. We offer brief composite sketches of the unhappy but meaningful life and of the happy but meaningless life.

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“Although HWB is often considered more transient and state-like, substantial evidence indicates that it also exhibits considerable temporal stability (Baumeister et al., 2013 ; Tashjian et al., 2021; Vandeleur et al., 2009 ).”
Influential
Beyond the borders of wellbeing: network analyses reveal the fuzzy boundaries between wellbeing domains
Teulings, I. J. E., Deserno, M. K., Liu, J., Nes, R. B., Røysamb, E., Vittersø, J., & Bjørndal, L. D. (2026) · The Journal of Positive Psychology · doi:10.1080/17439760.2026.2651077 · Cited by 2
Conceptualizations of the good and the bad life: Two sides of the same coin?
Winston, C. N., Maher, H., & Easvaradoss, V. (2017) · The Humanistic Psychologist · doi:10.1037/hum0000052 · Cited by 2
OKULLARDA İŞYERİ RUHSALLIĞI GELİŞİMİ ÜZERİNE BİR İNCELEME
Göçen, A., & Özğan, H. (2018) · Elektronik Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi · doi:10.17755/esosder.362674 · Cited by 2
Narrative Identity in the Social World
McLean, K. C., Syed, M., Haraldsson, K. G., & Lowe, L. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.035 · Cited by 2
Personality and Crime
Lynam, D. R., Vize, C. E., & Miller, J. D. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.043 · Cited by 2
Traits and Dynamic Processes
Jayawickreme, E., & Zachry, C. E. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108264822.032 · Cited by 2
Experiences of Happiness in Late Life Repartnering: Between Surprised Being Happy and Disappointed Not Being Happy From a Dyadic View
Koren, C. (2022) · Ageing International · doi:10.1007/s12126-022-09499-1 · Cited by 2
“Long-term happiness refers to flourishing, leading a good life, and to life satisfaction beyond momentary feeling (Baumeister et al., 2013).”
Background
Can there be overly meaningful lives? Conflicts between meaning in life and other values
Landau, I. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.946648 · Cited by 2
“Likewise, several psychological works have already focused on the relation between (mostly subjective) meaning and a specific value such as happiness (subjective wellbeing) (Baumeister et al., 2013), creativity (Kaufman, 2018), optimism (Yu and Chang, 2019), gratitude (Kleiman et al.”
Background
Meaningful Work, Affective Commitment, Gratitude and Happiness at Work
Mohsin, F. H., Isa, N. M., Awee, A., Zahari, N. H. M., & Azmi, N. (2023) · Asian Journal of Behavioural Sciences · doi:10.55057/ajbs.2023.5.1.2 · Cited by 3
Well-being is associated with cortical thickness network topology of human brain
Li, Y., Li, C., & Jiang, L. (2023) · Behavioral and Brain Functions · doi:10.1186/s12993-023-00219-6 · Cited by 2
“These two dimensions are positively correlated but distinct components [9, 11, 104].”
Background
Social Anxiety in University Students: Towards an Intentional Life-Skills Based Prevention Model
Ali, H., & Joordens, S. (2023) · JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY · doi:10.29245/2578-2959/2023/3.1282 · Cited by 2
Daily positive and negative affect during the COVID-19 pandemic
Ivčević, Z., Shen, S., Lin, S., Cheng, D., Probasco, R., Silbermann, B., Zhang, F., Lin, X., & Brackett, M. A. (2024) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1239123 · Cited by 2
“Whereas happiness is a present-oriented experience (Baumeister et al., 2013), hope and optimism are future-oriented experiences.”
Background
Essentialist beliefs about the self predict psychological well-being
Christy, A. G., Maffly‐Kipp, J., Friedman, M., Cimpian, A., & Schlegel, R. J. (2024) · Self and Identity · doi:10.1080/15298868.2024.2336940 · Cited by 2
“Indeed, Baumeister et al. (2013) identified self-expression as a central factor in folk views of a “meaningful life” (in contrast, self-expression was less central to how people defined a “happy life”).”
Background
Different impacts of parental psychological and behavioral control on the cultivation of advantageous strength in Chinese rural adolescent
Wang, R., Liu, M., Sun, Y., & Li, Q. (2024) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1349386 · Cited by 2
“Theoretical research shows that one of the key functions of meaning in life is the temporal integration of the past, present, and future, encouraging individuals to focus on future possibilities (Baumeister et al., 2013).”
Background
Consumer reconnection through the practice of mindful eating
Priol, M. D. L., & Schmitt, J. (2024) · Recherche et Applications en Marketing (English Edition) · doi:10.1177/20515707241270102 · Cited by 2
“It involves the desire to infuse one’s consumption behavior with significance that extends beyond the self (Baumeister et al., 2013; Steger, 2012) by adhering to specific aspirations and values, such as environmental (Monnot et al., 2014), social (DeVincenzo and Scammon, 2015), or ethical concerns…”
Factors associated with a meaningful life for transgender women in India: implications for social work practice
Krishnan, S. R. G., Pereira, N. G., Das, N. J., & Potter, A. (2024) · Social Work in Mental Health · doi:10.1080/15332985.2024.2446156 · Cited by 2
“On the other hand, enjoying being around children, reading books, and being optimistic about the future, were all positively and significantly correlated with the respondents’ presence of meaning, which is in line with the existing literature (Baumeister et al., 2013).”
Words of well-being: language reveals differences in the relational nature of five components of subjective well-being
Palikot, E., Marszałek, M., & Kryś, K. (2025) · The Journal of Positive Psychology · doi:10.1080/17439760.2025.2461538 · Cited by 2
“…et al., 2013; Metz, 2009) – as well as their temporal domain (meaning tends to be focused on the future, while happiness involves the present; Baumeister et al., 2013) and self-orientation (happiness tends to be focused on the self, while meaning includes others; Baumeister et al., 2013).”
Estrangement between older parents and adult children: Associations with mental health
Nikolajsen, A. T., Larsen, L. P. S., Christoffersen, M., Holstein, B. E., & Swane, C. E. (2025) · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships · doi:10.1177/02654075251327874 · Cited by 2
“Although having children is known to temporarily decrease parents ’ sense of happiness, it simultaneously tends to strengthen a sense of purpose; the experience of leading a life saturated with aims, goals, and purpose (Baumeister et al., 2013).”
Pursuing Happiness Together or Alone? Social and Solitary Happiness-Pursuit Activities Differentially Relate to Older Adults’ Emotional Happiness
Gong, X., Chang, X., Xia, Z., & Zeng, X. (2025) · Journal of Happiness Studies · doi:10.1007/s10902-025-00886-4 · Cited by 2
“As a result, individuals are more likely to see these social activities as desirable and enjoyable, boosting the experience of immediate happiness (Baumeister et al., 2013; Steger, 2012).”

Authors: Baumeister, R. F., Vohs, K. D., Aaker, J. L., & Garbinsky, E. N.
Affiliations: Florida State University (US)
University of Minnesota (US)
Stanford University (US)
Corresponding author: Baumeister, Roy F.
ORCID: Baumeister, Roy F.
Vohs, Kathleen D.
Garbinsky, Emily N.
Venue: The Journal of Positive Psychology
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2013-11
Volume: 8
Issue: 6
Pages: 505-516
ISSN: 1743-9760 (ISSN-L)
1743-9779
DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2013.830764
OpenAlex: W1519128814
Cited by: 1,006
References: 27
Citations by year: 2026: 42 · 2025: 98 · 2024: 98 · 2023: 101 · 2022: 82 · 2021: 72 · 2020: 124 · 2019: 81 · 2018: 66 · 2017: 66 · 2016: 96 · 2015: 40 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 13
FWCI: 86.89
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
doi.org
Locations: The Journal of Positive Psychology (publishedVersion)
SSRN Electronic Journal (acceptedVersion)
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
Keywords: happiness, meaningfulness, subjective well-being, predictors of happiness, need satisfaction, present orientation, stress, personal identity, self-expression

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Some key differences between a happy life and a meaningful life

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