Literature　has　shown　that　temporal　focus　(TF)　is　closely　related　to　mental　health,　and　both　of　them　are　associated　with　meaning　in　life　(MIL).　Nevertheless,　few　studies　have　investigated　the　functional　role　of　MIL　in　the　relationship　between　TF　and　mental　health,　especially　in　the　context　of　COVID-19.　The　present　study　aims　to　explore　the　mediating　role　of　MIL　between　different　categories　of　TF　(i.e.,　past,　present,　and　future　TF)　and　mental　health.　A　two-wave　longitudinal　survey　was　conducted　among　538　Chinese　participants　aged　between　22　and　70　(M　+/-　SD=35.07　+/-　8.82).　TF　was　assessed　at　Time　1,　while　MIL,　anxiety,　and　life　satisfaction　were　measured　at　Time　2.　The　results　of　SEM　showed　that　past　TF　negatively　predicted　MIL,　while　present　and　future　TF　positively　predicted　MIL.　In　addition,　MIL　mediated　the　relationship　between　TF　and　mental　health　indicators　(anxiety　and　life　satisfaction).　Specifically,　past　TF　demonstrated　a　negative　indirect　effect　on　life　satisfaction　by　reducing　MIL,　while　present　and　future　TF　had　a　positive　indirect　effect　on　life　satisfaction　by　strengthening　MIL.　In　contrast,　past　TF　demonstrated　a　positive　indirect　effect　on　anxiety　by　reducing　MIL,　while　present　and　future　TF　had　a　negative　indirect　effect　on　anxiety　by　strengthening　MIL.　Therefore,　the　present　results　supported　the　positive　roles　of　present　and　future　TF　in　promoting　MIL　and　mental　health　during　the　COVID-19　pandemic.　For　the　MIL　intervention　during　the　pandemic,　the　present　findings　suggested　that　compared　to　recalling　the　past,　more　attention　should　be　paid　to　living　in　the　present　and　hoping　for　the　future.