While a majority of Americans find the most meaning in life through family, other values can be influenced by political leaning.
A 2017 report from Pew Research Center identified the top places where Americans find meaning in their lives. At the top of the list was family, with 69 percent of Americans saying it was the most important.
Though religion was lower on the list, Pew Research found the people who did find meaning in religion said it was the single most important thing in their lives.
This belief is also correlated with political leanings, according to the study. Conservative respondents were twice as likely as liberal respondents to identify religion as meaningful, with 41 percent saying it was the most important source of meaning. Liberal respondents, on the other hand, were more likely to find meaning in things like social causes and creative activities.
Adam Bowen, an assistant teaching professor of philosophy at Ball State University, says religious people see that God has a will, and they can find fulfillment in that. They believe God has a plan for them. Others find meaning by doing activities and service based on their faith, or engaging with people in the church.
Brian Steensland, a professor of sociology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, says conservative Americans are typically more religious, in general showing higher levels of church attendance. They also place more value on the role of religion in public life.
While some liberals are religious, they are more likely to find meaning in the arts and philosophy.
