DINAMIKA PENCARIAN MAKNA HIDUP PADA AYAH TUNGGAL KARENA KEMATIAN

The death of a life partner is one of the hardest and stressful events, especially for singe fathers who also experience a change in their role as parents. This can lead single fathers to question the meaning of their lives. Meaning in life is the direction or goal sought by an individual, as well as a subjective and dynamic assessment of life as meaningful or meaningless. The purpose of this study is to scientifically examine the dynamics search for meaning in life among single fathers due to death, using a qualitative research method and a phenomenological approach. Data collection was carried out through semi-structured interviews with 3 single fathers who were then analyzed using inductive thematic analysis techniques. The results obtained were then validated communicatively and argumentatively. The results of this research show that there is a great loss and acute reactions as a form of psychological experience regarding the death of his wife. In the process of searching the meaning in life, the process of searching for the meaning of the wife's death, finding the meaning of the wife's death, responding to the wife's death, searching for self-meaning, and finding self-meaning. Next, there is a process of discovering the meaning in life, realizing the meaning in life, and experiencing a meaningful life. Apart from that, several factors were also found that could influence the dynamics of single fathers' search for meaning in life due to death, namely spirituality and social support from family, friends and children.