Introduction: Whereas evidence has shown that a sense of purpose is linked to optimal adjustment, longitudinal work investigating the development of purpose identification as well as its effect on psychological functioning among non-Western samples during adolescence is needed. Methods: Three hundred and eighty-seven senior high school students (253 female, 65.37%; mean age = 15.76 years at the first investigation) from Taiwan completed surveys four times beginning in the fall of tenth grade and ending in the spring of eleventh grade with a six-month interval. Using self-ratings, purpose identification was evaluated in all four assessments and psychological functioning was examined through life satisfaction and depressive symptoms in the first and the last survey. Results: Growth curve analyses revealed an increased slope in purpose identification over the first two years of high school, and such a trajectory was similar across boys and girls. Additionally, increases in purpose identification predicted enhanced life satisfaction and reduced depressive symptoms among both boys and girls. There was only one gender difference: The negative association between purpose identification trajectory and depressive symptoms was stronger for girls than for boys. Conclusions: There is an increase in the development of identified purpose during middle adolescence among high school students in Taiwan. Such change not only promotes life satisfaction in adolescents but is also preventive of adolescent depression. As such, the current findings highlight the significance for adolescents to discover and commit to a purpose.

Introduction

Cultivating a clear sense of self has long been regarded as an important developmental task for adolescents; a smooth progress into adulthood requires a successful identity formation during adolescence (Erikson, 1968). In the past two decades, a construct closely tied to identity development—purpose—has gradually received more attention because of its particular significance for youth and emerging adults. In fact, purpose not only associates with one’s identity status (Burrow, O’Dell, & Hill, 2010), but can also mediate the effect of identity on well-being (Burrow & Hill, 2011). Not surprisingly, while having purpose facilitates adaptation and resilience (Burrow & Hill, 2013; Malin, Liauw, & Damon, 2017; Malin, Morton, Nadal, & Smith, 2019), lack of purpose in life indicates a greater tendency toward maladjustment (Harlow, Newcomb, & Bentler, 1986; Okasaka, Nobuaki, Nakatani, & Fujisawa, 2008). Although prior research has consistently pointed out the role of identifying a sense of purpose for optimal functioning (for a review, see Bronk, 2014), there are three issues with the current literature on purpose identification. First, much of the current insight on purpose is derived from samples of emerging or older adults. The development of purpose during adolescence deserves more exploration (Damon, Menon, & Bronk, 2003; Hill, Burrow, & Sumner, 2013). Second, findings on adolescents’ purpose were often based on cross-sectional data. Longitudinal studies would further broaden our understanding of how adolescents develop purpose. Third, the majority of studies focusing on purpose were conducted in Western countries such as the United States.