Spirituality, ecology and community
A reflexive thematic analysis of meaning in life among Samin youth
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21698034 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Nelly Marhayati (0000-0002-3557-7913, Universitas Islam Negeri Fatmawati Sukarno Bengkulu Bengkulu Indonesia, corresponding author), Suryani Suryani (0000-0001-8857-5359, Universitas Islam Negeri Fatmawati Sukarno Bengkulu Bengkulu Indonesia), Rodiyah Rodiyah (0000-0002-8021-7757, Universitas Islam Negeri Fatmawati Sukarno Bengkulu Bengkulu Indonesia), Adam Nasution (Universitas Islam Negeri Fatmawati Sukarno Bengkulu Bengkulu Indonesia), A V Nasution (Universitas Muhammadiyah Bengkulu) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Publication date | 2026-06-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Asian Journal Of Social Psychology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1367-2223 • E-ISSN: 1467-839X |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/ajsp.70092 |
| OpenAlex | W7154739994 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 28 |
This study explores how Samin (Sedulur Sikep) youth in Kudus, Central Java, understand meaning in life and how culturally rooted values shape their worldview amidst modern industrial pressures. Using Reflexive Thematic Analysis of semi‐structured interviews with five purposively selected participants, we identified three overarching themes: harmony with nature, spiritual inheritance from ancestors and social responsibility within the community. Drawing on Schnell's ( The psychology of meaning in life , 2021) existential dimensions, the findings reveal that meaning is constructed through horizontal and vertical self‐transcendence rather than individualistic self‐actualization. Values of simplicity, honesty and respect for nature underpin everyday conduct and provide a moral compass for ontological resilience. The study contributes to cross‐cultural and indigenous psychology by demonstrating how holistic thinking organizes meaning‐making processes and by refining accounts of psychological well‐being in communities that preserve traditional lifeways. Implications include the need for culturally responsive interventions and participatory research models that acknowledge spiritual ecological ethics and communal reciprocity in youth development
Emic and etic · Indigenous · Individualism · Reflexivity · Thematic analysis · Cultural Differences and Values · Environmental Education and Sustainability · Religion, Ecology, and Ethics
Life is pretty meaningful.
Thematic Analysis
Meaning in Life as Comprehension, Purpose, and Mattering
The Sources of Meaning and Meaning in Life Questionnaire (SoMe)
The three meanings of meaning in life
Everyday Resistance
Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis
Change within Continuity”
Sustainability, virtue ethics, and the virtue of harmony with nature
Who gets to live the good life? Master Narratives, identity, and well-being within a marginalizing society
Sample Size in Qualitative Interview Studies
The Imposed and the Imagined as Encountered by Croatian War Ethnographers
| Highly cited | No |
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