Purpose in Life among Thai Junior High School Adolescents

Abstract

Purpose in life is a significant foundation of motivation and achievement that guides adolescents
who live life with a positive viewpoint. This paper describes meanings of the purpose in life among Thai
junior high school adolescents. Participants were 21 Junior high school adolescents aged between 14 and 15.
Data were gathered through in-depth interviews, and story writing in 2014. Colaizzi’s approach was used
to analyze and interpret the data. Four criteria for establishing trustworthiness, based on Lincoln and Guba,
were used.
This study found that the participants described the meanings of purpose in life in three themes:
a vision for their life, desire to follow their passion, and work toward achievement of life goals. It
demonstrated that understanding purpose in life could encourage adolescents to think, plan, and discover
their own approach to meet their specific life goals. The knowledge gained from the findings indicates that
government, schools teachers and school nurses should encourage and guide adolescents to discover their
own meaningful purpose in life.