Meaning in life, gratitude and forgiveness as predictor of well-being in adolescents

The main purpose of research is to explain the predictor impact of the existance of meaning in life, searching for meaning in life, gratitude and forgiveness on well-being of adolescents. Various individual, familial and environmental variables were also dealt with in the research. It was investigated whether well-being in adolescents varied with gender, school type, class level, academic achievement status, parent togetherness status, parents'educational level, parental income, number of siblings, occupational objective, school satisfaction and school choice status significantly. Conducted research was designed by quantitative approach. The study population was comprised of high school students in 2016-2017 academic year in the centre of Malatya. Proportionate Stratified Sampling Method was used to determine the research sample. Nine Anatolian High Schools, Nine Vocational and Technical Anatolian High Schools and a Science High School took place in the research sample and the research sample that 1800 students from these schools participated in was comprised. Forgiveness scale was applied to 428 students and Gratitude scale was applied to 165 students to also carry out confirmatory factor analysis of measurement tool that will be used in the research. Well-being scale (EPOCH) developed by Kern and others, high school form adapted by Demirbaş Çelik and İşmen Gazioğlu of the meaning in life scale developed by Steger, Frazier, Oishi and Kaler, Gratitude scale developed by McCullough, Emmas and Tsang, Forgiveness scale developed by Berry, Worthington, O'Connor, Parrott and Wade and Personal Information Form were used in the research. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was carried out to determine suitability of Gratitude and Forgiveness scales for adolescents. Depending on data acquired from scales of this research, average and Pearson Correlation Coefficient for descriptive analysis, Multiple Linear Regression Analysis from predictor techniques, T-Test for comparing two groups and One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for comparing more groups were used. Research result indicated that there was a significant relation between well-being and its sub-dimensions (engagement, perseverance, optimism, connectedness and happiness) and the existence of meaning in life, searching meaning in life, gratitude and forgiveness positively and these independent variables predicted approximate 32 per cent of well-being of adolescents. It is found that well-being of adolescents differed in terms of class level, academic achievement level, education status of father, parental income, the number of siblings, occupational objective, school satisfaction and school choice status variables but it did not differ in terms of gender, school type, parent togetherness status and education status of mother variables. Research results were discussed in the direction of literature, suggestions for psychological counselor and guidance teachers, parents and researchers were offered.