The Moderating Role of Meaning in Life in the Relationship Between Neuroticism and Anxiety-Depressive Symptoms in University Students

Meaning in life (MIL) is conceptualized as a subjective experience that allows individuals to understand their existence, orient themselves toward valuable goals, and perceive their lives as significant, all of which promotes psychological well-being. According to Martela and Steger (2016) tripartite model, MIL consists of three dimensions: coherence (cognitive), purpose (motivational), and significance (emotional). Although its buffering role against psychopathology is well known, few studies have examined its moderating function between emotional vulnerability traits, such as neuroticism, and anxious-depressive symptomatology. The objective of this study was to explore the moderating role of MIL and its dimensions in the relationship between neuroticism and symptoms of anxiety and depression in Spanish university students. A cross-sectional design was used with a sample of 336 students (77% women) aged 18 to 27. Moderation analyses showed that only the purpose dimension had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between neuroticism and anxiety; students with a greater sense of purpose experienced lower levels of anxiety even in the presence of high emotional vulnerability. Conversely, no dimension of MIL showed a moderating effect on the relationship between neuroticism and depressive symptomatology, although high scores in all three dimensions were associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. In conclusion, the results underline the importance of fostering meaning in life as a potential preventive strategy in the field of university mental health.