From Confused Reflections to Life Awareness: A Narrative Reconstruction of Death's Significance in the Life World of Higher Education Students

This study adopts a narrative research approach to investigate the inner experiences and meaning-making processes of higher education students when confronted with the subject of death. Through in-depth interviews with five participants, the study uncovers the cognitive and emotional progression that higher education students undergo in engaging with death-related topics. This progression spans from initial confusion and avoidance to gradually understanding and accepting death, ultimately leading to an awakening of life’s significance. The findings reveal that discussions about death not only evoke emotional reactions but also facilitate the construction of personal meaning within the narrative of death. This research provides fresh insights into death education and psychological counseling for higher education students, offering practical guidance for the effective implementation of death education initiatives.