Meaning, happiness and psychological distress: correlates and qualitative reflections

Abstract

The study investigated the concepts of meaning and happiness within an African context. Two hundred and forty-one participants (Mean age = 20.52 years, SD = 1.73, female = 57.67%) completed surveys on meaning, happiness and psychological distress. A subgroup of 119 participants completed qualitative data (naïve sketches) on their perspectives of meaning and happiness (female = 60.50%, Mean age = 20.48 years, SD = 1.65). Eighteen of the participants also completed individual interviews (female = 72.22%, Mean age = 20.49 years, SD = 1.69). Mixed methods analysis suggested meaning to be more closely related to happiness than to psychological distress. World views seemed to explain meaning and distress attributions.