Journal of Boredom Studies

No. 4 (2026)
Articles

The Connection Between State Boredom and Authoritarian Attitudes: The Moderating Role of Search for Meaning

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  • Ceren Acar,
  • Sabrina Krauss,
  • Stephanie Jainta
Ceren Acar
SRH-University of Applied Sciences Heidelberg
Sabrina Krauss
SRH University of Applied Sciences Heidelberg
Stephanie Jainta
SRH University of Applied Sciences Heidelberg

Published 2026-06-17

Keywords

  • authoritarianism,
  • Meaning of Life,
  • Situational Boredom,
  • search for meaning,
  • worldview defense

How to Cite

Acar, C., Krauss, S., & Jainta, S. (2026). The Connection Between State Boredom and Authoritarian Attitudes: The Moderating Role of Search for Meaning. Journal of Boredom Studies, (4). Retrieved from https://www.boredomsociety.com/jbs/index.php/journal/article/view/70

Copyright (c) 2026 Ceren Acar, Sabrina Krauss, Stephanie Jainta

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

The present study examined whether state boredom predicts authoritarian attitudes and whether this link is moderated by individuals’ search for meaning. Based on theories describing boredom as an aversive state (accompanied by a feeling of meaninglessness that motivates efforts to restore structure and significance) and that the search for meaning can lead to authoritarian attitudes, we expected higher boredom to be associated with stronger authoritarian orientations, particularly when search for meaning is high. In a cross-sectional online survey (N = 350), participants reported their state boredom, search for meaning, and authoritarian attitudes. Boredom showed a positive correlation with authoritarian attitudes, and regression results confirmed a small but significant effect. Crucially, search for meaning moderated this association. When meaning search was low, boredom did not predict authoritarian attitudes. At average levels, the link was significant, and at high levels of search for meaning, it was strongest. These findings suggest that boredom relates to a preference for order, clarity, and authority but primarily among individuals who are already motivated to find meaning. Although the study’s cross-sectional design prevents causal conclusions, the results highlight boredom as a psychologically mundane yet politically relevant experience, especially for people high in searching for meaning in life.

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