EXPERIENCE OF THE FINALITY OF LIFE: STRIVING TO LIVE MORE VALUABLY

The aim of this study was to reveal the experience of finality of life of young adults and to develop a substantive theory, based on experience of young participants. In this research, the definition of death anxiety was operationalised and the term finality of life was used. Based on a distinctive philosophical background, this term enables to research the prevailing phenomenon in novel ways and to have a different look at its experience. The classical grounded theory (GT) method was chosen for the research as it empowers to study and explain the phenomenon in a variety of ways, to extract its key points and concepts, and to provide its theoretical construct. 18 healthy adults aged 22 – 45 participated in the research. 2 in-depth interviews were conducted with each of the participants. They wrote a diary on the topic. The data was analysed using classical GT principles. Central theoretical component, core category, was named - striving to live more valuably. It discloses the extent to which participants deal with the main concern of this phenomenon – inevitability of death. Two subcategories emerge: finding a lively life and striving for subjective value of life. The latter is characterized as condition facilitation, satisfaction with life. The use of visual imagery for the explanation of the created theory help to reveal better the experiences, which are encountered by the young adults, while facing the finality of life or talking about this topic. It is expected that the present research will draw attention on the fact that in order to understand the human relationship with death and mortality, it is not sufficient to talk about avoidance and anxiety, it is necessary to speak about human desire to have a nice and valuable life.