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Sense of meaningfulness, sources of meaning, and self-evaluation of economically disadvantaged youth in Hong Kong: implications for youth development programs

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  • To, Siu-ming
  • Tam, Hau-lin
  • Ngai, Steven Sek-yum
  • Sung, Wai-leung

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the direction of youth development programs for economically disadvantaged youth by examining how their sense of meaningfulness and sources of meaning were associated with self-evaluation. Based on a survey design of 373 low-income Chinese adolescents recruited from five schools located in districts with the highest percentages of low-income households in Hong Kong, the results indicate a positive association between their sense of meaningfulness and self-evaluation. The findings also show that the intrinsic sources of meaning (individualism, collectivism, and self-transcendence) were positively associated with self-esteem. The results suggest that extrinsic aspirations were not a major source of positive self-evaluation of Hong Kong Chinese adolescents living in low-income families. On the contrary, they derived life meaning from various intrinsic sources. Their perception of the intrinsic sources of meaning and sense of meaningfulness worked jointly to affect their self-evaluation. Given the value of existential meaning in youth development under economic hardship, practitioners and educators should work with low-income adolescents’ life process of awareness in order to bring them to the possibilities for richer and deeper experiences for personal development, relationship enhancement, community participation, and spirituality enrichment. They should also initiate comprehensive life skills training in all formal, nonformal and informal learning contexts.

Suggested Citation

  • To, Siu-ming & Tam, Hau-lin & Ngai, Steven Sek-yum & Sung, Wai-leung, 2014. "Sense of meaningfulness, sources of meaning, and self-evaluation of economically disadvantaged youth in Hong Kong: implications for youth development programs," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(P3), pages 352-361.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:47:y:2014:i:p3:p:352-361
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.10.010
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Siu To & Hau Tam, 2014. "Generational Differences in Work Values, Perceived Job Rewards, and Job Satisfaction of Chinese Female Migrant Workers: Implications for Social Policy and Social Services," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 118(3), pages 1315-1332, September.
    2. Ngai, Steven Sek-yum & Cheung, Chau-kiu & To, Siu-ming & Liu, Ying & Song, Han-yu, 2013. "Parent–child relationships, friendship networks, and developmental outcomes of economically disadvantaged youth in Hong Kong," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 91-101.
    3. Jessica Morgan & Tom Farsides, 2009. "Measuring Meaning in Life," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 10(2), pages 197-214, April.
    4. Tamás Martos & Mária Kopp, 2012. "Life Goals and Well-Being: Does Financial Status Matter? Evidence from a Representative Hungarian Sample," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 105(3), pages 561-568, February.
    5. Zolkoski, Staci M. & Bullock, Lyndal M., 2012. "Resilience in children and youth: A review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(12), pages 2295-2303.
    6. Hopson, Laura M. & Lee, Eunju, 2011. "Mitigating the effect of family poverty on academic and behavioral outcomes: The role of school climate in middle and high school," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 2221-2229.
    7. Ungar, Michael, 2011. "Community resilience for youth and families: Facilitative physical and social capital in contexts of adversity," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(9), pages 1742-1748, September.
    8. Reiss, Franziska, 2013. "Socioeconomic inequalities and mental health problems in children and adolescents: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 24-31.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ching-Wen Chang & Siu-Ming To & Wallace Chi-Ho Chan & Alex Ching-Pong Fong, 2021. "The Influence of Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Community Protective Factors on Hong Kong Adolescents’ Stress Arising from Political Life Events and Their Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Chau-kiu Cheung, 2023. "Radicalism and Life Meaningfulness Among Hong Kong Youth," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(2), pages 997-1013, April.
    3. To, Siu-ming, 2016. "Loneliness, the search for meaning, and the psychological well-being of economically disadvantaged Chinese adolescents living in Hong Kong: Implications for life skills development programs," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 52-60.
    4. Yang, Shuyan & Ng, Petrus Yat-nam & Chiu, Renee & Li, Sean Shuying & Klassen, Robert M. & Su, Susan, 2020. "Criteria for adulthood, resilience, and self-esteem among emerging adults in Hong Kong: A path analysis approach," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).

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