มิติของชีวิตและความหมายเชิงจิตวิทยา: การศึกษาเชิงประจักษ์ในกลุ่มประชากรวัยผู้ใหญ่ตอนต้นของไทย: Dimensions of Life and Psychological Meaning: An Empirical Study among Early Adulthood Population in Thailand

Chatchawan  Sawatphak

Authors

Chatchawan Sawatphak Faculty of Public Health and Environment, Huachiew Chalermprakiat University, Samut Prakan 10540

Keywords:

Life Dimensions, Meaning in Life, Existential Psychology, Psychological Well-Being, Phenomenology

Abstract

This study aimed to: (1) examine the structural dimensions of life and psychological meaning among Thai young adults, (2) analyze the relationships between life dimensions, meaning in life, and psychological well-being, and (3) develop a structural model of the relationships between life dimensions and psychological well-being. The research employed a mixed-methods design, using Frankl’s (1946/2006) concept of life dimensions in conjunction with Self-Determination Theory proposed by Deci and Ryan (2000) as the conceptual framework. The sample consisted of 380 young adults aged 18–35 years from higher education institutions and public and private organizations in Bangkok and its metropolitan areas, selected through stratified random sampling. The research instruments included a life dimensions and psychological meaning assessment, phenomenological interview guidelines, and a psychological well-being scale. Quantitative data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and path analysis, while qualitative data were analyzed using a phenomenological approach.

The findings revealed that: (1) the structure of life dimensions in the Thai context comprises six dimensions: physical, psychological, social, spiritual, occupational, and existential, with the spiritual and social dimensions demonstrating the highest factor loadings; (2) life dimensions were positively and significantly correlated with meaning in life and psychological well-being, with the existential dimension showing the strongest relationship with meaning in life (r = .74, p < .001) and the social dimension showing the strongest relationship with psychological well-being (r = .69, p < .001); and (3) the LIFE-M Model (Life Integrated Framework for Existential Meaning) demonstrated an excellent fit with empirical data (CFI = .97, RMSEA = .048) and explained 71.2% of the variance in meaning in life.

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Dimensions of Life and Psychological Meaning: An Empirical Study among Early Adulthood Population in Thailand