Personality and sex differences in mattering and purpose-in-life

Mattering and purpose-in-life are key aspects of individuals’ perception of who they are and their relationships with others. However, their associations with personality, as well as sex differences within these associations, remain relatively unexplored. Three studies investigated, respectively, the correlation between mattering and purpose-in-life across sexes (N₁ = 906), their measurement invariance by sex and associations with the Big-Five (N₂ = 400), and with antagonistic traits (N₃ = 178), including potential sex differences in these associations. Study 1 found lower purpose-in-life in women compared to men, but no difference in mattering. Additionally, a positive and moderate correlation between mattering and purpose-in-life was observed, but no sex differences. Study 2 found higher factor covariance in men than women. Moreover, it showed that conscientiousness positively predicts mattering and purpose-in-life, neuroticism negatively predicts both, and agreeableness positively predicts purpose-in-life. Study 3 showed that primary and secondary psychopathy negatively predict mattering, grandiose narcissism positively predicts mattering and purpose-in-life, and secondary psychopathy negatively predicts purpose-in-life, in all cases showing no sex differences. These results highlight the importance of mattering and purpose-in-life in personality research and intervention, offering insights for personality development by addressing dysfunctional perceptions and fostering personal and professional growth across various applied settings. For instance, in counseling, leveraging mattering and purpose-in-life could help clients strengthen their resilience and coping skills. In educational settings, mattering and purpose-in-life could support learners’ self-efficacy and improve educational outcomes. In organizational settings, they could drive change by enhancing individuals’ confidence, productivity, and leadership.