The presence of meaning in life (PML) and the search for meaning in life (SML) are crucial when facing difficult times. Although several theoretical frameworks have tried to explain the dynamics of meaning in life during adversity, empirical evidence about interactions among both constructs using longitudinal designs is scarce. This study examined the trajectories of both PML and SML during the COVID-19 lockdown period in Spain. In total, 220 adults fulfilled an online survey during two periods: a strict and a relaxed lockdown period. Latent growth models showed that both PML and SML declined slightly during the strict lockdown, but they reached a plateau during the relaxed lockdown. Results also showed that age and having a partner predicted higher PML and lower SML at baseline, whereas being male predicted higher scores on PML. PML and SML were negatively associated at baseline, higher SML at baseline was related to a steeper decreasing PML slope during the strict lockdown, and the PML and SML slopes in the relaxed lockdown period were negatively related. This study contributes to better understanding longitudinal fluctuations of meaning in life in situations of adversity.

面对困难时期，存在生命意义 (PML) 和寻找生命意义 (SML) 至关重要。尽管一些理论框架试图解释逆境中​​生活意义的动态变化，但使用纵向设计的关于两种结构之间相互作用的经验证据很少。这项研究检查了西班牙 COVID-19 封锁期间 PML 和 SML 的轨迹。总共有 220 名成年人在两个时期完成了一项在线调查：严格和宽松的锁定期。潜在增长模型显示，PML 和 SML 在严格锁定期间均略有下降，但在放松锁定期间达到稳定水平。结果还表明，年龄和有伴侣在基线时预测更高的 PML 和更低的 SML，而男性预测更高的 PML 分数。PML 和 SML 在基线时呈负相关，基线时较高的 SML 与严格锁定期间更陡峭的 PML 斜率下降有关，放松锁定期间的 PML 和 SML 斜率呈负相关。这项研究有助于更好地理解逆境中生活意义的纵向波动。