Executive Summary

Existential psychology plays a central role in human progress and flourishing, in part, because meaning in life is a self-regulatory and motivational resource that helps people live healthy, productive, prosocial, and goal-oriented lives. More specifically, to explore, create, innovate, persevere in the face of adversity, have an optimistic attitude about the future, and come together in the service of solving the big challenges of today and building a better tomorrow, people need to view themselves as existential agents—individuals who believe they have the power to live a meaningful life. The greater people’s existential agency, the more they will be driven to improve their own lives and the lives of others. This report offers a snapshot of existential agency in America.

Key Findings

• The majority of Americans (63%) agree or strongly agree that they have the power to live a meaningful life (high existential agency). This is the case for both men and women and across regions of the country.
• Existential agency varies across generations. A minority (39%) of American adults under the age of 25 agree or strongly agree that they have the power to live a meaningful life. For all age groups 25 and older, a majority of Americans agree or strongly agree that they have the power to live a meaningful life.
• Level of education is positively associated with existential agency. The majority of Americans who have at least a high school level education agree or strongly agree that they have the power to live a meaningful life, but only 39% of those with less than a high school level of education agree or strongly agree that they have the power to live a meaningful life.
• Household income is positively associated with existential agency. However, the majority of Americans in every income group agree or strongly agree that they have the power to live a meaningful life.
• Work is positively associated with existential agency. Employed and retired Americans are more likely to agree or strongly agree that they have the power to live a meaningful life than Americans who are not working but are not retired. Among working Americans, self-employed workers are the most likely to agree or strongly agree that they have the power to live a meaningful life.
• Marriage is positively associated with existential agency. Nearly 70% of married Americans, just over half of never-married Americans, and less than half of currently separated Americans agree or strongly agree that they have the power to live a meaningful life.
• Belief in the American Dream is strongly associated with existential agency. Some 77% of Americans who believe they have achieved the American Dream and 66% of those who believe they are on their way to achieving the American Dream agree or strongly agree that they have the power to live a meaningful life. Only 32% of those who believe the American Dream is out of reach agree or strongly agree that they have the power to live a meaningful life.

This report was published by the Archbridge Institute on October 28, 2021. Read the full report here.

About the Author

Clay Routledge

Arden and Donna Hetland Distinguished Professor of Business and Faculty Scholar in the Sheila and Robert Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth at North Dakota State University

Author Bio        clay.routledge@ndsu.edu