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The present research adopted both an individual and a sociocultural approach to expand previous knowledge of the mechanisms underlying reported variance in life satisfaction. Given the gratitude-oriented lifestyle and daily rituals of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, gratitude may serve as a central vehicle to its members' high reported levels of life satisfaction. Thus, Study 1 explored the mediating role of gratitude through a cross-cultural comparison between ultra-Orthodox and secular samples. Study 2 explored the moderating effect of optimism on the relationship between the sociocultural group and gratitude, which, in turn, affects life satisfaction. Based on two matched samples of ultra-Orthodox and secular individuals, the findings indicate that the relationship between cultural group and life satisfaction was fully mediated by gratitude. Moreover, optimism was found to moderate the relationship between cultural group and gratitude so that the difference in gratitude levels between the two cultural groups was higher for individuals with low levels of optimism. The findings hold significant conceptual and practical implications for a better understanding of life satisfaction and its contributors., Author(s): Pninit Russo-Netzer [sup.1] [sup.2] , Tamar Icekson [sup.3] [sup.4] , Aya Zeiger [sup.5] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.443007.4, 0000 0004 0604 7694, Department of Advanced Studies, Achva Academic College, , [...]

Synchronicity refers to the psychological process of meaningful coincidences. Despite its deep roots in early psychological theory, little systematic scientific research has been conducted on synchronicity experiences as an everyday phenomenon. This study is an exploratory qualitative attempt to characterize experiences of meaningful coincidences through a bottom-up approach. Based on a phenomenological analysis of indepth interviews of 45 adults, the findings suggest a dynamic model of three major building blocks (REM): receptiveness (R) or increased attention and openness to feelings and cognitions and to the external environment; viewed as a precondition for an exceptional encounter (E), a sudden unexpected event that echoes an inner feeling or thought, commonly evoking memorable and distinctive emotions; and meaning detecting (M), a conscious process of connecting the event to oneself while revalidating a sense of coherence, purpose and control in life. Findings also point to the multidimensional and complex nature of synchronicity experiences and reveal some positive outcomes. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, and study limitations and directions for future research are suggested., Author(s): Pninit Russo-Netzer [sup.1] [sup.2] , Tamar Icekson [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.18098.38, 0000 0004 1937 0562, Department of Counseling and Human Development, University of Haifa, , Haifa, Israel (2) [...]

Research has shown that meaning in life is beneficial to mental and physical health. Furthermore, having a sense of meaning in work has also been found to generate greater well-being and job satisfaction. However, the literature has paid scant attention to exploring the manner in which meaning in life is experienced among professional care providers such as therapists and counsellors. The purpose of this qualitative study was to provide an in-depth understanding of the experience of meaning in life among counsellors whose work is oriented towards the cultivation of well-being in educational settings. Three themes emerged from the analysis of 46 interviews with Israeli counsellors: (a) the development of meaning in life and work, (b) the sources of meaning in life; and (c) the sources of meaning in the counsellors' work. Implications for future research and practice regarding the experience of meaning are discussed.

Immigration has become a global phenomenon as part of modern life. However, immigrants often demonstrate negative emotional states following the immigration process, which may destabilize one's existing values and standards which provide meaning to life. Meaning in life is considered to be a protective factor against life adversities, and previous research has linked acculturative stress with reduced meaning in life. Yet, little is known about the differential utility of meaning in life among immigrants and non-immigrants in a given society. Thus, the current study examined whether meaning in life mediates the connection between negative affect and life satisfaction, and whether this mediation differs among immigrants and non-immigrants in Israel. Results demonstrated a significant mediation of meaning in life for the negative affect - life satisfaction connection, but only among native Israelis. The role of meaning in life in the context of acculturation is discussed, and future directions are suggested., Author(s): Pninit Russo-Netzer [sup.1] , Gabriel Horenczyk [sup.2] , Yoav S. Bergman [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.18098.38, 0000 0004 1937 0562, Department of Counseling and Human Development, University of Haifa, [...]

Consensus is growing that teacher leadership benefits teaching quality and student performance. Despite the recognition that teacher leadership contributes to teachers' professional development, little is known about how it is developed and how teachers experience the transition to the teacher-leader role. This study explores the internal mechanisms underlying the transition to and formation of teachers' professional identity as teacher leaders. It is based on 60 interviews: 41 teachers who were selected to participate in a leadership training programme, 10 principals and 19 teacher-leaders' colleagues. The findings led to a model with four central components: (1) Overall professional identity; (2) The experience of 'being chosen;' (3) An internal meaning-making process; and (4) External forces.

An increasingly large body of research in social psychology has underscored the power of brief situational interventions in promoting purposeful change. The present research contributes to the literature on positive psychology interventions (PPIs) by testing a novel volitional intervention that encourages people to engage in activities 'outside their comfort zone.' Participants were randomly assigned either to a condition that encouraged them to engage in an activity outside of their comfort zone over the following two weeks or to a control condition that encouraged them to keep a record of their daily activities. The intervention boosted the life satisfaction of people who were relatively less happy at baseline, with exploratory analyses tentatively suggesting benefits strongest among people who went outside their comfort zone by helping others. Discussion centers on the potential of behavioral 'stretch' interventions to promote positive change and well-being among people dissatisfied with their life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For example, while the search for meaning was found to be negatively related to the presence of meaning among U.S. participants, it was positively related to the presence of meaning among Japanese individuals (Steger et al., [25]) and Israelis (e.g., Abu-Raiya et al., [1]; Russo-Netzer, [19]). The new meaning of meaning To understand the new meaning that emerged at this conference, it is important to understand the philosophy behind the conference and the organization itself. Meaning is essential to human health, well-being, and valued living, in general and related to disaster mental health (Finkelstein-Fox et al., [12]; Melton & Schulenberg, [17]; Pavlacic et al., [18]; Schulenberg, [20], [21]; Schulenberg et al., [22]; Weathers et al., [20]). Keywords: Meaning; existentialism; Viktor Frankl; sociology; social justice EN Meaning existentialism Viktor Frankl sociology social justice 129 137 9 04/03/23 20230401 NES 230401 Meaning in crisis The world is in crisis!. [Extracted from the article]

Education is among the most powerful gateways to social change and mobility. It is also a potentially vital backbone for the development of young people's sense of meaning, purpose, and responsibility, enhancing their ability to face the unique challenges of our volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world. The global scale of the current wave of political and social changes heightens the need for a renewed examination of the educational system and its challenges. This paper asserts the importance of education for meaning and meaningful education as essential ingredients in preparing children and adolescents for the changing and uncertain world of the future. Yet meaning in life, which is almost unanimously recognized as a fundamental component of subjective well-being, has received little attention in education. This paper considers empirical evidence of the importance of meaning to the education and healthy development of children and adolescents and then proposes a heuristic model for intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]