Exploring Adolescents' View of the Meaning of Life

Subject Areas : Qualitative Research

Zahra Fereydooni ¹ , Babak Shamshiri ²

1 - PhD in Philosophy of Education, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
2 - Professor, Department of Fundamentals of Education, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

Received: 2025-03-26 Accepted : 2025-05-01 Published : 2025-05-01

Keywords: Meaning of life, adolescents, phenomenology, students ,

Abstract :

Finding meaning in life is one of the most essential needs that can be addressed for all individuals at any level. However, its emergence and development in adolescence amplify its importance during this period. Young generations are considered the significant assets of any nation, and they can play their role in the development and progress of the country better when they are prepared to face the crises and realities of society. Therefore, awareness of their attitudes to adopt appropriate decisions and strategies, as well as equipping them with necessary skills to confront contemporary global crises, including the crisis of meaning, is essential. The aim of this research is to examine adolescent students' perspectives on the meaning of life. With this aim in mind, their views on the components of meaning of life were investigated through interviews with adolescents. The present study was conducted within a qualitative paradigm. Initially, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 students in the eleventh and twelfth grades of high school, and then the data obtained were analyzed using Van Mannen’s phenomenological methods. From the analysis of the interviews , 22 sub-themes and 10 main themes were extracted, which ultimately fell under 4 main themes titled "meaning of life in relation to oneself", "meaning of life in relation to others", "meaning of life in relation to God", and "meaning of life in relation to nature." The research results indicated that adolescents interpret meaning as having various aspects, with a greater focus on personal and materialistic goals.

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