Young Children's Sense of Meaning in Life: Sources and Facets of Meaning in 3–7-Year-Olds’ Accounts

This study explores which sources of meaning are highlighted and how the three facets of meaning in life—significance, direction, and coherence—are reflected in young children’s accounts of what is important to them. An analysis of interviews based on audiovisual autobiographical materials created by children (n = 65) on tablet computers showed that the most common sources of meaning were family relationships, activities such as play, and objects such as toys. Although most children expressed a sense of subjective significance, objective significance—contributing to others’ lives—was articulated less frequently. Direction was primarily expressed as short-term goals, and a few children displayed an emerging sense of purpose. Individual coherence was experienced through predictable everyday routines, whereas global coherence was reflected in the children’s thoughts about the meaning of life. The three facets of meaning in life might depend on distinct capacities that mature at different points in development.