The dynamics of meaning in life and their associations with burnout within- and between persons

Meaning in Life has been a suggested contributor to burnout, both in prevention and acceleration. Meaning in Life is comprised of presence (having meaning) and search (seeking meaning), and these two facets may operate independently of each other. This study explores the relationship between meaning in life, measured by the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, and burnout, measured by the Bergen Burnout Inventory, across time. Longitudinal data from an initial cohort of 1239 frontline workers (baseline) in the UK and Ireland were collected from March 2020 to May 2023 to examine within- and between-person differences in presence and search, their interaction, and their relationship to burnout and its dimensions. The findings demonstrate that presence and search for meaning operate differently in relation to burnout. Interactive effects were found: for overall burnout and cynicism, search for meaning was associated with poorer outcomes especially among those with low presence of meaning.