Psychological Development and Education ›› 2020, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (5): 576-583.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2020.05.09

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The Association between Interpersonal Competence and Meaning in Life: Roles of Loneliness and Grade

ZHANG Rongwei1, KE Shaojing2, LIAN Rong3, LI Dan4   

  1. 1. Department of Public Admistration, Fujian Provincial Party School of CPC, Fujian Academy of Governance, Fuzhou 350001;
    2. School of Communicate&Event Management, Fujian Business University, Fuzhou 350012;
    3. School of Psychology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350108;
    4. Department of Psychology, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234
  • Published:2020-09-12

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Abstract: Based on the perspectives of existential psychology, a moderated mediation model was examined in the present study, in which loneliness mediated the relation between interpersonal competence and meaning in life, and the meditating effect was moderated by grade. We surveyed 1476 college students (freshmen and sophomores) from three colleges at Fujian province using the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire and the Illinois Loneliness Questionnaire. The results indicated that: (1) There were gender differences on interpersonal competence and loneliness. Boys gained significant higher scores of interpersonal competence and lower scores in loneliness than girls; (2) Interpersonal competence was significantly and negatively related to loneliness, but significantly and positively related to presence of meaning in life and search for meaning in life. However, loneliness was significantly and negatively related to presence of meaning in life and search for meaning in life; (3) Loneliness served as a mediator in the relation between interpersonal competence and presence of meaning in life. Also the mediating effect of loneliness in the relation was moderated by grade. As compared to sophomores, larger mediating effect size of loneliness was found in the freshmen. Results were discussed in terms of the meaning and implications of the interpersonal competence promoting presence of meaning in life in the context of the psychological education of adjustment for freshmen.

Key words: college students, grade, interpersonal competence, loneliness, meaning in life

CLC Number: 

  • B844
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