Meaning in Life Within an African Context

A Mixed Method Study

Bibliographic Data

ID15345949
AuthorsHenry D Mason (0000-0002-3966-9970, Tshwane University of Technology, corresponding author)
Year2013
Volume23
Issue4
Pages635-638
Publication date2013-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Psychology in Africa (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1433-0237 • E-ISSN: 1815-5626
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14330237.2013.10820679
OpenAlexW1538930283
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited7

This article reports on a mixed method study that described and explored meaning in life among 179 university students (53.63% female). Data on their sense of meaning in life were collected using the Life Purpose Questionnaire (Hutzell, 1989), supplemented with qualitative naïve sketches. The data on the Life Purpose Questionnaire were analysed using descriptive statistics while those from naive sketches were thematically analysed. Whereas the life meaning survey data pointed to predominantly uncertain definition of meaning in life among the sample, those from the naive sketched yielded three themes to suggest that participants (1) experience meaning as a beyond-the-self contribution to the world, (2) relationships, education and religion are prominent sources of meaning, and (3) used African metaphors to express the experience of meaning in life

Context (archaeology · Developmental psychology · Meaning (existential · Psychotherapist · Purpose in life · Education Practices and Challenges · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Resilience and Mental Health · Social Psychology

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