Meaning of life and conceptions about death in college students: a correlational study

Authors

  • Thiago Antonio Avellar Aquino Universidade Federal da Paraíba
  • Ana Carolina Diniz Alves Centro Universitário de João Pessoa - UNIPÊ
  • Andrei Alves de Aguiar Centro Universitário de João Pessoa - UNIPÊ
  • Rossana Ferreira de Oliveira Refosco Centro Universitário de João Pessoa - UNIPÊ

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/psi.v14i2.16696

Keywords:

meaning of life, concepts of death, existential psychology

Abstract

Considering the importance of finitude for human existence, this paper aimed to investigate the relationships between meaning of life and conceptions of death. The participants of this study were 190 male and female university students, from Law, Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Psychology courses. Most of the participants were female (68,9%) and Catholic (61,6%). The Purpose in Life Test, the Death Perspective Questionnaire and a socio-demographic questionnaire were used to collect the data. The results showed positive correlations between existential emptiness and concepts of death as failure, pain and loneliness, and abandonment. On the other hand, existential emptiness was correlated negatively with the concept of death as a natural end. Such results support the teleological conception of Viktor Frankl, which asserts that the conscience of finitude puts in motion the will to find a life purpose. We conclude that existential variables are relevant to understand the conceptions people have about death.

 

 

Keywords: meaning of life; concepts of death; existential psychology.

Author Biographies

Thiago Antonio Avellar Aquino, Universidade Federal da Paraíba

Psicólogo, doutor em psicologia Social pela UFPB e professor do Departamento de Ciências das Religiões

Ana Carolina Diniz Alves, Centro Universitário de João Pessoa - UNIPÊ

Psicóloga do Centro de referência especializado em Assistência social, Santa Luzia (PB)

Andrei Alves de Aguiar, Centro Universitário de João Pessoa - UNIPÊ

Graduando em Psicologia do Centro Universitário de João Pessoa (UNIPÊ).

Rossana Ferreira de Oliveira Refosco, Centro Universitário de João Pessoa - UNIPÊ

Psicóloga do CAPS II, Santa Rita (PB)

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How to Cite

Aquino, T. A. A., Alves, A. C. D., de Aguiar, A. A., & Refosco, R. F. de O. (2010). Meaning of life and conceptions about death in college students: a correlational study. Interação Em Psicologia, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.5380/psi.v14i2.16696

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 2 (2010)

Section

Articles

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