EXPLORING PERSONAL MEANING IN AN AGE-DIFFERENTIATED AUSTRALIAN SAMPLE- ANOTHER LOOK AT THE SOURCES OF MEANING PROFILE (SOMP)

This exploratory study looks at what 461 Australians, aged 18-91, cons ider to be the most and least important sources of meaning in their li ves. Based upon, and compared to an earlier Canadian study for which t he Sources of Meaning Profile (SOMP) instrument was developed and exam ined, the major conclusions from the Australian study were fundamental ly consistent with continuity theory. While some age-related differenc es in meaning orientations were found, there was nevertheless consider able consistency in the ratings given to the sources of meaning across the Australian age cohorts, with only 5 of the 16 sources of meaning employed in the Australian study significantly differing on the basis of age. Across cultures, there was similar consistency between the Can adian and Australian respondents, whose youngest and oldest respondent groups agreed that the most important sources of personal meaning are in participation in personal relationships personal growth, meeting b asic needs, participation in leisure activities, and in the preservati on of values and ideals. Theoretical implications and practical applic ations are briefly discussed.