Examining Nietzsche's Epigram: Having a Why Helps You Bear Almost Any How?

How does having purpose in life help people develop successful routes to achieve their life goals? The authors address this question in the current study by examining the relationships among U.S. college students' purpose in life, resilience, and pathways thinking, defined as the belief that one can successfully generate plans to achieve one's life goals. Purpose in life was positively associated with resilience and pathways. Moreover, a mediation analysis revealed that purpose in life was indirectly associated with pathways via its correlation with pathways. Based on the findings, the authors outlined a theoretical framework that explains the role of purpose in life in people's psychological functioning.