Abstract:
Afrocentric paradigms reflect assumptions of the overarching importance of
interconnectedness and social bonds in meaningful experiences. It is, however, not
known if types of relatedness vary in importance as meaning sources in the subjective
experiences of laypeople, or what the reasons are that they ascribe to the importance of
relationships. The empirical and theoretical substantiation of philosophical assumptions
is needed to provide a scientific basis for appropriate well-being interventions in African
contexts. Therefore, this study aimed to empirically explore the relative importance of
various types of relationships as sources of meaning and in particular why relationships
are important to laypeople in relatively collectivist African contexts. Using a bottomup
qualitative approach with quantification of responses, this study explored how
prominently relationships featured as meaning sources compared to other domains
of life and then, in particular, the motivations for the importance of various types of
relationships as found in four African samples: a Ghanaian urban group (n = 389),
a South African multicultural, English-speaking urban group (n = 585), and two
South African Setswana-speaking groups (n = 512 rural, n = 380 urban). Findings
showed that the relational domains of life, namely, family, interpersonal relations,
spirituality/religion, and community/society, made up a large proportion of responses
on what provides meaning in life in particular family and spirituality/religion with
community/society occurring the least. The reasons for meaning experienced in various
relationship types included domain-typical relational descriptors, such as contributions
made or rewards received. However, many intrapersonal motives also emerged: inner
well-being, happiness, joy, a sense of competence, and own growth. Material needs and harmony also surfaced as motivations for relational importance. Findings are aligned
with African philosophical perspectives as far as the importance of relationships and
the value attached to spirituality/religion are concerned, but contributed additionally by
showing that different types of relationships vary in importance: close relationships are more important than community/societal relationships. Unearthing the reasons for the
importance of relationships points toward a dialectic pattern of African individualism–
collectivism in which independent and interdependent orientations flow together.
Such knowledge is vital for the promotion of mental health and well-being in
these contexts.
