Context as co-creator in spiritual life stories: the contextual nature of South African adolescents’ spiritual identity development
This study explored spiritual identity development in a sample of South African adolescents, by considering how the participants perceived and experienced their spirituality, as well as how these meaning-making experiences contributed to their identity development. Twelve adolescent participants wer...
Authors: | ; |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Taylor & Francis
[2020]
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In: |
International journal of children's spirituality
Year: 2020, Volume: 25, Issue: 1, Pages: 9-29 |
IxTheo Classification: | AD Sociology of religion; religious policy AE Psychology of religion AG Religious life; material religion CB Christian life; spirituality KBN Sub-Saharan Africa |
Further subjects: | B
adolescents in South Africa
B Spiritual identity development |
Online Access: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) |
Summary: | This study explored spiritual identity development in a sample of South African adolescents, by considering how the participants perceived and experienced their spirituality, as well as how these meaning-making experiences contributed to their identity development. Twelve adolescent participants were purposively sampled and participated in semi-structured interviews and reflective writing exercises. The themes that emerged from the analysis alluded to the importance of relationships and context. The roles of parents, peers, the educational environment, and geographical location were emphasised. Participants explored and committed to their spiritual identities through processes of personal reflection, discussion, and modelling. Spiritual development is thus a reciprocal and bidirectional process between the unique individual and context. Spiritual identity development is a fluid process that evolves and grows in connections and relationships with others. Personal, cultural, and contextual factors are thus important in the co-creation of individuals’ spiritual life stories. |
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ISSN: | 1469-8455 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: International journal of children's spirituality
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/1364436X.2020.1769567 |