Abstract

Faced with the increase in mental health disorders in post-pandemic society, this study sought to understand the implications of spirituality and meaning in life on the mental health of emerging adults in university settings. Methodologically, a non-experimental, cross-sectional, and exploratory qualitative approach was adopted. The convenience, non-probabilistic sample included 16 students with an average age of 21 years, from a private university in Temuco, Chile. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the stories were interpreted through content analysis assisted by ATLAS.ti. The results show that spirituality acts as a protective resource in the face of crisis processes, while meaning in life guides decision-making in contexts of uncertainty. The relevance of spirituality and meaning in life as key constructs for positively addressing the socio-personal and academic challenges that emerge in higher education is discussed.