Mental Well-Being, Harmony in Life, Transformative Power of Suffering and Self-Transcendence in Turkish Young Adults: a Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Life can sometimes present people with insurmountable obstacles that make it difficult to maintain a harmonious existence. Difficult obstacles can negatively affect concepts such as harmony in life and mental well-being. This study aims to examine the relationship between the concepts of harmony in life, mental well-being, self-transcendence, and the transformative power of suffering, and to highlight their implications for public health and community well-being. The data for this study were collected from 464 young adults who participated voluntarily. The instruments employed included the Harmony in Life Scale, the Transformative Power of Suffering Scale, the Mental Well-Being Scale, and the Self-Transcendence Scale. Data analysis and structural equation modeling were performed using SPSS and AMOS software. The results of the analysis indicated a positive correlation between harmony in life, mental well-being, self-transcendence, and the transformative power of suffering. In addition, the study revealed that the transformative power of suffering and mental well-being partially mediate the relationship between harmony in life and self-transcendence. The study suggests that achieving personal harmony in life can enable individuals to move beyond the pain associated with past distress, experience transcendence, and maintain optimism about their level of mental well-being. The ability to achieve harmony in life may foster constructive transformation and enhance mental well-being, both of which are essential for public health. Copyright©2025 by authors, all rights reserved.