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• The presence of meaning in life is associated with higher levels of well-being, both physical and mental. On the other hand, the search for meaning in life may bring about worse mental well-being and cognitive functioning.

“When you find more meaning in life, you become more contented, whereas if you don’t have purpose in life and are searching for it unsuccessfully, you will feel much more stressed out,” - Dilip V. Jeste, MD.

• Research has found that the presence of meaning of life reaches its apex at age 60, and this is when the search for meaning of life is at its lowest point.

“When you are young, like in your twenties, you are unsure about your career, a life partner and who you are as a person. You are searching for meaning in life. As you start to get into your thirties, forties and fifties, you have more established relationships, maybe you are married and have a family and you’re settled in a career. The search decreases and the meaning in life increases. After age 60, things begin to change. People retire from their job and start to lose their identity. They start to develop health issues and some of their friends and family begin to pass away. They start searching for the meaning in life again because the meaning they once had has changed.” - Dilip V. Jeste, MD.

Source: UC San Diego News Center