CONCEPTUALISATION OF THE MEANINGFUL LIFE AMONG RURAL AND URBAN YOUNG PEOPLE

Abstract

In a rapidly changing global environment young people find it more difficult to understand and take a position in life. Therefore, the insights into the meaning of life as well as youth values, which need to be updated at times, presuppose a scientific problem of this work. The article aims to elaborate the differences between the rural and urban youth concerning their perception of the meaningful life and their values. Three hundred and seventy undergraduate students in the study programmes of agriculture, technology and social science at Aleksandras Stulginskis University were surveyed. The results of the survey revealed the prevailing individualistic values of the youth. Although the statistical differences in the socio-economic variables were not found, some trends in the context of gender and place of origin were observed. Students associate the meaning of life with diligence and honest work, self-confidence and goal-seeking. The essential differences in basic life principles manifested themselves within the perception of the meaningful life between the urban and rural youth. Although young people from rural areas perceive life as tedious, they tend to live longer, abandoning everything that is unhealthy, and do not think that a suicide could be a way out of a difficult position. Whereas, the youngsters from big cities, evaluating their life in a fairly optimistic way, would rather live shorter life, than give up the pleasures of life; they are also more likely to think that a suicide could be a way out of a difficult situation.

Keywords: meaningful life, youth, values, urban, rural

Article DOI: http://doi.org/10.15544/RD.2017.160