Experiencing awe – an emotional state comprised of a sense of vastness and need for cognitive accommodation (Keltner & Haidt, 2003) – is associated with favorable outcomes, including enhanced life satisfaction and prosociality (Piff et al., 2015; Rudd et al., 2012). However, research on awe’s effects on meaning in life – an important component of subjective well-being (Heintzelman, 2018) – has yielded mixed results. Studies show that awe increases meaning via happiness and pursuit of purpose, yet decreases meaning via self-diminishment and reduction in significance (Dai et al., 2022; Rivera et al., 2020). We conducted two experimental studies to illuminate awe’s effects on meaning in life.

In Study 1, 152 undergraduate students (82.2% female; 76.3% White; mean age = 18.9) were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group was asked to write about an awe-inducing experience, while the other group wrote about a daily experience. Both subsequently filled out a survey. Study 2 followed the same procedure as Study 1, but 154 undergraduate students (76.0% female; 77.2% White; mean age = 19.0) were randomized to watch an awe-eliciting or instructional video in lieu of the writing task.

Results of Study 1 revealed no significant group differences in presence of meaning, but those in the awe group had higher search for meaning (t(146) = -2.06, p < .05, d = .17). Results of Study 2 indicated no significant group differences in presence of meaning or search for meaning.

These findings suggest that a writing task may be a more salient induction of awe than watching a video as writing’s autobiographical nature may have deeper links to meaning-making. The findings also suggest that awe inductions trigger search for meaning, supporting the notion that awe is a meaning-making emotion (Ihm et al., 2019). Future research should examine variables that explain awe’s effects on search for meaning.