02212nas a2200229   4500000000100000008004100001260007600042653002000118653001500138653001200153653001700165653001800182100001800200700001900218700002000237245010000257300001200357490000700369520157800376022001401954020001401968       2025                            d  c12/2025bSociedad Española para el Estudio de la Ansiedad y el Estrés10aMeaning in life10aDepression10aAnxiety10aYoung Adults10aMental health1 aMehmet Şanli1 aİlhan Çiçek1 aMetin Kocatürk00aDoes Meaning in Life Buffer the Link Between Anxiety and Depression? Evidence From Young Adults  a148-1570 v313 aMental health problems, including depression and anxiety, are increasing among young individuals and have become a public health concern. From this perspective, searching for meaning and purpose is an innate impulse contributing to a young adult s psychological well-being and plays a crucial role in mental health. This study examined whether meaning in life, gender and age moderate the relationship between anxiety and depression in a large sample of young adults. A total of 2338 participants, 1546 women and 792 men, with an average age of 24.41 were included in the study. The study examined the moderating effects of gender, age, and meaning in life on the relationship between anxiety and depression in participants. The data collected from the study was evaluated for the moderator effect and subjected to regression analysis. According to the results, meaning in life is negatively correlated with both anxiety and depression and moderates the relationship between them by reducing the strength of the association. In addition, gender has a moderating role in the relationship between anxiety and depression. However, age did not show a significant moderating effect. In summary, meaning in life has a protective role against psychological disorders in young adults, and high meaning in life protects individuals against other psychological disorders. Therefore, it is essential for mental health professionals — including psychologists, counselors, nurses, and others — to take an active role in supporting young adults in coping with depression and anxiety.  a1134-7937  a2174-0437