Content analysis of the way university students appreciate the meaning of life

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to understand the way university students appreciate the meaning of life. The subjects were 1, 2, 3, and 4 grade students from four universities located in Gyeonggido and Gangwondo Provinces; This study was a descriptive research project conducted from March to June 2015 for the purpose of understanding how university students appreciate the meaning of life. The data, gathered from interviews with a number of university students, who are at the last stage of adolescence, were classified into 102 statements and 30 categories through a series of content analyses of certain subjects, such as the definition and importance of the meaning of life, the endeavor to make life meaningful, the moments they feel the meaning of life, and the methods they adopt to feel the meaning of life. We analyzed the ways in which university students appreciate the meaning of life. We hope this study will provide a small guide for them so that the meaning of their lives can be enriched and their feeling of well-being enhanced. In addition, it is necessary to develop appropriate measures for college students to deal with crises in their life and, thus, the results of this study could be used as an important material for the systematic development of support programs for college students. Finally, this study will provide the basis for multifaceted interventions designed to improve the physical and mental health of college students and help them to adapt to college life.