Unlocking flourishing through future orientation: the connection with meaning in life among Chinese undergraduates

<jats:p>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Context and relevance. &lt;/strong&gt;Flourishing, which integrates both hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, signifies an individual&amp;rsquo;s ability to function effectively and experience life satisfaction. The mechanism of promoting flourishing is the key to improving the overall well-being of an individual. While existing research acknowledges the association between meaning in life, future orientation, and flourishing, the interactions among these three variables remain largely unexplored.&lt;strong&gt; Objective. &lt;/strong&gt;This study addresses this gap by investigating the direct and indirect effects of meaning in life and future orientation on the flourishing of undergraduates in China. &lt;strong&gt;Hypothesis.&lt;/strong&gt; It was hypothesized that: (1) meaning in life and future orientation positively and significantly predict flourishing; (2) meaning in life positively and significantly predicts future orientation; and (3) future orientation significantly mediates the relationship between meaning in life and flourishing. &lt;strong&gt;Methods and materials.&lt;/strong&gt; This was a cross-sectional study employing a quantitative correlational research design. Multistage cluster sampling and convenience sampling were used to collect data through questionnaires. &lt;strong&gt;Results.&lt;/strong&gt; The findings revealed compelling insights into 445 students from six public universities across China. Both future orientation and meaning in life significantly predicted flourishing (B = 0,19, SE = 0,06, p &amp;lt; 0,01; B = 0,68, SE = 0,06, p &amp;lt; 0,001). Crucially, future orientation was not only positively influenced by meaning in life (B = 0,68, SE = 0,03, p &amp;lt; 0,001) but also significantly mediated the relationship between meaning in life and flourishing, although to a lesser extent (B = 0,13, SE = 0,05, 95% CI [0,0377; 0,2217]). &lt;strong&gt;Conclusion. &lt;/strong&gt;The results suggest that future orientation amplifies undergraduates&amp;rsquo; flourishing by enriching their sense of meaning in life. This study underscores the necessity of integrating future goal setting with the cultivation of meaning in life in interventions aimed at student well-being within the Chinese cultural context.&lt;/p&gt;</jats:p>