Adolescent’s life purpose in a Science & Technology program

Projeto de vida de adolescentes em um programa de Ciência & Tecnologia

Abstract

Adolescents undergo major biopsychosocial changes and having a life purpose can be a protection for positive development. This study analyzed the life purpose of 18 adolescents (15-20 years old, with an average family income of R$ 1,625.00), holders of scholarship from a social program in a Science & Technology Center. They answered the Scale of Life Purpose for Adolescents Questionnaire and participated in a focus group about the impact of this program in their life project. The responses were reviewed using the Software Interface de R pour les Analyses Multidimensionnelles de Textes et de Questionnaires, and were organized in two corpora – Life Project and Social Program. Ten-year projects are based on the Material, Study/Work, and Positive Aspiration dimensions. Adolescents show a life purpose connected to their community that can be caused by the fact of being a participant in a social program, enabling better access to education and a closer contact with the community.

Keywords
Adolescent; Developmental psychology; Positive psychology; Social programs