Exploring meaning in life among Xhosa-speaking adults in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Abstract
Meaning is viewed as a crucial resource for human functioning, striving, and flourishing. Meaning links objects and ideas to each other in a predictable and relatively stable manner from a language perspective, but also and foremost for purposes of this study, denotes values and what is most important to people in their lives. The aim of study was to explore meaning in life amongst Xhosa-speaking adults in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. The research focused on how Xhosa-speaking adults understand meaning, their experiences of meaning, and what their sources of meaning in life were. A basic descriptive qualitative research design was applied. Eleven participants were recruited and a semi-structured open-ended interview schedule was used to collect data for the study. The interviews were conducted in Xhosa and translated into English during transcription. Data was analysed using thematic analysis.
In terms of the understanding of meaning in life, themes such as engaging with family, a sense of purpose and direction in life, spiritual activities, engaging livelihood, extending oneself and generativity, and values and morality surfaced. In terms of participants’ experiences of a meaningful life, themes included critical self-knowledge and life pursuits, fulfilling societal expectations, and challenges and resources. With regard to sources of meaning in life, themes such as values and growth, religion, education, family (and faith community), and work were prominent. While the findings were consistent with existing theory and research on meaning in life, the study also highlighted contextual dynamics in what constitutes meaning in life and how this is experienced. The study contributes important insights regarding principles and values, acting morally and having a personalised existential relationship with God as key facets of meaning in this context. In addition, the emphasis on having critical self-knowledge adds to growing research on the need to understand the individual as a person while considering the context in well-being research in the African context. Meaning in life emerged as both an individualised and communal experience grounded in lifestyle choices, communal values, spirituality, and the individual’s conception of who he or she is. These findings have implications
for well-being interventions in the community and clinical practice as meaning-making forms an integral part of such interventions.
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- Health Sciences [2060]