Department of Psychology and Counselling, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/jspi.2026.129787.0
Abstract
The proliferation of feelings of emptiness and meaninglessness among the younger generation in Iran has evolved into a pervasive phenomenon, taking on the dimensions of an emerging social issue. This study aims to provide a sociological explanation of this crisis and to propose an integrated analytical framework for its comprehension. Grounded in a fundamental-theoretical approach and an interpretive paradigm, the research utilizes a conceptual-documentary analysis method. The research corpus consists of theoretical texts related to existential psychology (Frankl and Yalom), philosophical hermeneutics (Ricoeur), and the sociology of anomie and individualization (Durkheim and Giddens), alongside research documents pertaining to the crisis of meaning among Iranian youth between 2017 and 2026. Data were analyzed through conceptual thematic analysis and theoretical synthesis, conducted in three stages: conceptual coding, relationship analysis, and modeling. The findings indicate that the crisis of meaning among Iranian youth can be described as a state of “suspension amidst conflicting narratives.” At the macro level, factors such as inequality of opportunity, the erosion of traditional institutions, and the influx of consumerist values provide the context for this crisis. At the meso level, the weakness of alternative meaning-making discourses and the exclusion of existential dialogues from the public sphere exacerbate this state of narrative suspension. The final analytical model illustrates the semantic order and interpretive links governing macro, meso, and micro levels. Consequently, the crisis of meaning among Iranian youth is a multidimensional issue rooted in the interplay of social structures, the rupture of collective narratives, and ontological challenges. Addressing this crisis necessitates going beyond individual psychological interventions and requires a fundamental rethinking of cultural, educational, and communication policies.
Taghipour,A . (2026). The Crisis of Meaning among Iranian Youth an Existential–Hermeneutical Analysis. (e11767). Social Problems of Iran, (), e11767 doi: 10.22034/jspi.2026.129787.0
MLA
Taghipour,A . "The Crisis of Meaning among Iranian Youth an Existential–Hermeneutical Analysis" .e11767 , Social Problems of Iran, , , 2026, e11767. doi: 10.22034/jspi.2026.129787.0
HARVARD
Taghipour A. (2026). 'The Crisis of Meaning among Iranian Youth an Existential–Hermeneutical Analysis', Social Problems of Iran, (), e11767. doi: 10.22034/jspi.2026.129787.0
CHICAGO
A Taghipour, "The Crisis of Meaning among Iranian Youth an Existential–Hermeneutical Analysis," Social Problems of Iran, (2026): e11767, doi: 10.22034/jspi.2026.129787.0
VANCOUVER
Taghipour A. The Crisis of Meaning among Iranian Youth an Existential–Hermeneutical Analysis. Soc. Probl. Iran. 2026;():e11767 (In Persian). doi: 10.22034/jspi.2026.129787.0
