Calling and Life Satisfaction Among Undergraduate Students: Investigating Mediators and Moderators

The present study examined the relation of calling and life satisfaction among a diverse group of undergraduate students.
In line with previous research, the presence of a calling weakly correlated with life satisfaction and moderately correlated
with meaning in life. Three potential moderators of the calling-life satisfaction relation were tested: religiousness, living
one’s calling, and core self-evaluations. The relation of calling and life satisfaction was not different based on levels
of religiousness or experiences of living one’s calling. However, the relation of calling to life satisfaction was stronger
for students with low core self-evaluations. Additionally, using a multiple mediation model, academic satisfaction and life
meaning were found to fully mediate the calling-life satisfaction relation. Participants more likely to view their career
as a calling were more satisfied in life because of attaining greater life meaning and satisfaction within the academic domain.
Implications for future research and practice are discussed.