Enhancing life purpose amongst Thai adolescents

This article describes experiences that enhanced life purpose in 21
Thai adolescents living in Southern Thailand. Thailand is undergoing
rapid change from technology, a globalizing economy, and shifting
social norms. A phenomenological analysis of in-depth interviews and
stories to better understand how Thai youth themselves experience
and describe their life purposes revealed two main themes. First,
enhancing life purpose is a trial-and-error process that integrates
receiving a good opportunity, being urged by others to contemplate
the question ‘What will you do when you grow up?’ and having a
positive role model. Second, enhancing life purpose is about
accomplishing in life through love of self, gratitude to beneficent
others, and sacrifice and awareness of responsibility towards society.
Findings provide insights for parents, school nurses and teachers to
assist adolescents to enhance life purpose.