Representations of Hope, Goals, and Meaning From Lay Person’s Perspectives in Two African Contexts

Abstract

In the rapidly expanding field of positive psychology, a core question is now what the relationships among various positive constructs are and how we can understand this in various contexts. We aimed to explore the possible nomological network linking the constructs hope, goals, and meaning from a bottom-up Africentric perspective in two African contexts (Ghana and South Africa) among samples of 18 emerging adults between the ages of 18 and 25 years in each context. Connotations of hope, goals, and meaning as experienced by participants were thematically analyzed and thereafter conceptually clustered. These clusters formed overlapping nodes indicating the nomological network among constructs. Apart from positive intrapersonal cognitive processes linking the main constructs, the fulfillment of various well-being needs, embedded-ness in horizontal and vertical relationships, intertwined understandings, and links across domains of life came to the fore as nodes linking the constructs hope, goals, and meaning in the current sample. Our findings further illustrated that African-centered perspectives on the interconnectedness of things through spirituality and relationships endorse positive psychology views that emphasize relational dimensions as crucial aspects of cognitive well-being.