Investigating the interplay between social exclusion and meaning in life: the catalytic influence of psychological flexibility and basic psychological needs

BACKGROUND: Although prior studies have demonstrated that social exclusion adversely influences individuals’ sense of meaning in life, the underlying mediating mechanisms and moderating boundaries have not been fully examined. Accordingly, the present study investigated whether basic psychological needs mediate the relationship between social exclusion and meaning in life, and whether this mediating pathway is moderated by psychological flexibility. METHODS: A three-wave, time-lagged quantitative design was employed with a sample of 1,056 Chinese college students. Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing social exclusion, meaning in life, basic psychological needs, and psychological flexibility. RESULTS: Social exclusion was negatively associated with meaning in life, and basic psychological needs served as a significant mediator in this relationship (indirect effect = − 0.21). Psychological flexibility significantly moderated the association between social exclusion and basic psychological needs (interaction effect = 0.11, p < 0.01), and also moderated the mediating effect of basic psychological needs on meaning in life. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that social exclusion may erode college students’ sense of life purpose by undermining the satisfaction of basic psychological needs. This underscores the importance of providing adequate social resources and opportunities to meet diverse student needs and foster interpersonal support. Moreover, targeted psychological training should be prioritized for students exhibiting low psychological flexibility. Implementing evidence-based interventions to enhance adaptability and positive cognitive reappraisal may help students accept challenging circumstances, shift toward constructive thinking patterns, and strengthen their sense of meaning in life.