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Michael F. Steger

Bio: Michael F. Steger is an academic researcher from Colorado State University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Meaning (existential) & Career development. The author has an hindex of 51, co-authored 121 publications receiving 14296 citations. Previous affiliations of Michael F. Steger include University of Minnesota & North-West University.


Papers
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TL;DR: The Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) as mentioned in this paper is a 10-item measure of the presence of, and the search for, meaning in life, which was developed to measure the emotional well-being of counseling patients.
Abstract: Counseling psychologists often work with clients to increase their well-being as well as to decrease their distress. One important aspect of well-being, highlighted particularly in humanistic theories of the counseling process, is perceived meaning in life. However, poor measurement has hampered research on meaning in life. In 3 studies, evidence is provided for the internal consistency, temporal stability, factor structure, and validity of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), a new 10-item measure of the presence of, and the search for, meaning in life. A multitrait-multimethod matrix demonstrates the convergent and discriminant validity of the MLQ subscales across time and informants, in comparison with 2 other meaning scales. The MLQ offers several improvements over current meaning in life measures, including no item overlap with distress measures, a stable factor structure, better discriminant validity, a briefer format, and the ability to measure the search for meaning.

3,066 citations

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TL;DR: The present data show that cognitive reappraisal, a primary process of traditional cognitive-behavior therapy, was much less predictive of the quality of psychological experiences and events in everyday life compared with EA.

859 citations

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TL;DR: The authors have attracted diverse ideas about meaningful work (MW), accompanied by an equally disparate collection of ways of assessing the work that is meaningful and meaningful. But, as they point out, many people desire work that they believe is meaningful.
Abstract: Many people desire work that is meaningful. However, research in this area has attracted diverse ideas about meaningful work (MW), accompanied by an equally disparate collection of ways of assessin...

857 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Three studies provide the first extensive effort to understand the correlates of the search for meaning in a multistudy research program, and highlight the importance of basic personality dispositions in understanding theSearch for meaning and its correlates.
Abstract: Although several theories assert that understanding the search for meaning in life is important, empirical research on this construct is sparse. Three studies provide the first extensive effort to understand the correlates of the search for meaning in a multistudy research program. Assessed were relations between search for meaning and well-being, cognitive style, and the Big Five, Big Three, Approach/Avoidance, and Interest models of personality, with a particular emphasis on understanding the correlates of search for meaning that are independent of presence of meaning. Conceptual models of the relation between search and presence were tested. Findings suggest that people lacking meaning search for it; the search for meaning did not appear to lead to its presence. Study 3 found that basic motive dispositions moderated relations between search for meaning and its presence. Results highlight the importance of basic personality dispositions in understanding the search for meaning and its correlates.

672 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide a comprehensible theoretical overview that aims to define and pinpoint the differences and connections between these three facets of meaning, and point toward a new future for research on meaning in life.
Abstract: Despite growing interest in meaning in life, many have voiced their concern over the conceptual refinement of the construct itself. Researchers seem to have two main ways to understand what meaning in life means: coherence and purpose, with a third way, significance, gaining increasing attention. Coherence means a sense of comprehensibility and one’s life making sense. Purpose means a sense of core goals, aims, and direction in life. Significance is about a sense of life’s inherent value and having a life worth living. Although some researchers have already noted this trichotomy, the present article provides the first comprehensible theoretical overview that aims to define and pinpoint the differences and connections between these three facets of meaning. By arguing that the time is ripe to move from indiscriminate understanding of meaning into looking at these three facets separately, the article points toward a new future for research on meaning in life.

636 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Reading a book as this basics of qualitative research grounded theory procedures and techniques and other references can enrich your life quality.

13,415 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There are not enough well-controlled studies to conclude that ACT is generally more effective than other active treatments across the range of problems examined, but so far the data are promising.

4,777 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A large effect size is found for rumination, medium to large for avoidance, problem solving, and suppression, and small to medium for reappraisal and acceptance in the relationship between each regulatory strategy and each of the four psychopathology groups.

4,471 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
05 Feb 1897-Science

3,125 citations