Meaning Making Under Stress: The Mediating Role of Resilience in Affect and Memory

Abstract

This research investigated the interplay among stress, meaning in life, and resilience, and examined their combined effects on affective and memory functioning. Two independent, post-test–only experiments (N = 140; 70 per experiment) with matched group randomized block design were conducted involving young adults. In Experiment 1, negative affect was experimentally induced using positive-negative affect valence task, while Experiment 2 employed a standardized stress induction through sing a song stress test. In both experiments, participants assigned to the experimental condition completed a structured meaning-making task involving writing about life goals, positives from past negative experiences, and value affirmation task. Experiment 1 assessed resilience and affective responses; Experiment 2 assessed resilience and memory functions (delayed and immediate recall, retention of similar and dissimilar pairs, and recognition). Independent samples t tests and simple mediation analyses were conducted. Across both experiments, meaning in life showed a robust positive association with resilience. Resilience mediated the relationship between meaning and negative affect, with meaning-making linked to higher positive affect and reduced negative affect following induction. Effects on memory were modest, though positive impact was observed on immediate recall and retention of dissimilar pairs. These findings underscore meaning-making as a significant psychological resource that strengthens resilience and supports affective well-being under stress, with selective benefits for memory functions.