Abstract
BackgroundPurpose in life (PIL) is essential for adolescents to flourish. However, there has been little research to help understand the process of nurturing purpose in life among Thai nursing students. AimThis grounded theory study aimed to describe the process of nurturing purpose in life among Thai nursing students. MethodsThis study was guided by Straussian grounded theory. The two main data gathering methods were face to face in-depth interviews and participants’ written stories or drawings. Data were analysed through open, axial, and selective coding until the category emerged. FindingsThis study illustrated the “Living Life for Others” core category, representing the nurturing of purpose in life among Thai nursing students. It consists of two categories; (i) being obliged to study nursing for a significant person, comprising three concepts: recognising the value of love, living life in the right path, and creating the feeling of delight, and (ii) committing to study nursing for the safety of patients, comprising three concepts: recognising the value of support, providing care with compassion, and being fulfilled in life. Discussion“Living life for others” contributes to previous research by illustrating a process to nurture the PIL among adolescent Thai nursing students, confirming that once PIL was nurtured, the participants desired to contribute to matters beyond the self, leading to feelings of pride and fulfillment. Conclusion“Living life for others” emerges when the participants acknowledge the value of significant persons and commit to being grateful to those who gave them their sense of fulfillment.
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