Sense of purpose in life and work-life tension: Perceptions of interference and enhancement

Abstract

This research examines the relation between purpose in life and perceptions of work-life interference (work interferes with personal life and vice versa) and enhancement (work enhances personal life and vice versa) and whether these dimensions mediate purpose and cognition over 10 years. Employed participants from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 4,492) reported on their purpose in life and work-life interference and enhancement; a subset (N = 2,207) had cognition measured at baseline and again 10 years later. Purpose was associated with less work-life interference and greater work-life enhancement. Purpose was associated with maintenance of cognition, but the work-life dimensions were unrelated to cognition and thus did not account for the relation between purpose and maintenance of cognitive function. This research suggests that purpose in life is associated with greater integration of working and personal lives. Such integration can promote better aging-related outcomes, but not cognitive function.

Keywords

• Purpose in life
• Work-life tension
• Interference
• Enhancement
• Cognitive aging