Ontological Wellbeing of University Students: A Cluster-Analysis Approach

Abstract

This study is focused on the relationship between purpose in life, emotional wellbeing, ontological (life project) wellbeing, and compassionate love. The Purpose in Life subscale of Psychological Well-Being Scale, Emotional Wellbeing Scale, Ontological Wellbeing Scale, and Compassionate Love for Humanity Scale were administered to 287 students who were undergraduate students and graduate students (masters and doctoral). Cluster analysis results indicated profiles of three factors. First profile showed high level of hope and come into action toward low regret and nothingness. High regret and nothingness were experienced toward low level of hope and come into action on the second profile. Moderate ontological wellbeing was exposed on the last profile. MANOVA analyses were used to compare those three profiles and statistically significant difference were found between Emotional Wellbeing, Purpose in Life, and Compassionate Love Scores. Moreover, the results of the study indicated that exposing high level of ontological wellbeing on hope and come into action is related to life goals, emotional wellbeing, and compassionate love.