Purpose by design or disaster: Preserving a sense of purpose amid environmental uncertainty.

Psychological research suggests a sense of purpose in life is a coveted asset, with well-established linkages to well-being and healthy functioning. But how do individuals preserve this sense when previously reliable settings – and the opportunities they afford – are profoundly disrupted? The current moment provides a formidable test of this question, as widespread transmission of Covid-19 and intense efforts to slow it drastically transform our environment. Here, we consider how the experience of purpose may be impacted by disruptions in three key person-environment interactions: how we engage with work , how we engage in education , and how we manage physical proximity. We hope to motivate critical thinking about how this pandemic, and our collective responses to it, influence the experience of purpose and delineate a research agenda that may inform how individuals' can preserve a sense of engagement and contribution. • Research links sense of purpose with well-being and healthy functioning. • The current letter considers how purpose is preserved amid environmental uncertainty. • Three person-environment interactions are explored. • Covid-19 may present a formidable challenge to individuals maintaining sense of purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]