, PLEASE USE THIS DOCUMENT AS A GUIDE ONLY
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIENCE OF MATTERING
1. Introduction
The psychological experience of mattering has increasingly been recognised as a fundamental
component of human well-being, yet its systematic investigation within the South African context
remains limited. Mattering, defined as the perception of being significant and important to others,
encompasses beliefs about being noticed, cared about, and depended upon by significant individuals
in one’s social environment (Rosenberg & McCullough, 1981; Flett, 2025). While international
research has robustly demonstrated that mattering is associated with favourable mental health
outcomes, enhanced well-being, and prosocial behaviour, the applicability of these findings to
post-colonial, developing nations such as South Africa is underexplored. The enduring legacy of
apartheid-era systemic dehumanisation, structural inequality, and collective trauma continues to
shape the lived experiences of many South Africans, raising critical questions about how individuals
in this context come to feel that they matter, or conversely, that they are invisible and unimportant
(Penxa-Matholeni, 2025; Radebe, 2025).
If more knowledge were generated about the factors that influence and are influenced by mattering
within South African populations, mental health interventions could be more precisely targeted,
social cohesion initiatives could be strengthened, and community-based healing practices could be
informed by culturally grounded evidence. The proposed research project aims to address this gap by
examining the relationships between mattering and two specific psychological factors derived from
the preselected list for this project: social support and purpose in life. Specifically, this study will
explore how perceived social support from family, friends, and the community relates to individuals’
sense of mattering, and how mattering itself relates to a sense of purpose in life. These relationships
will be scientifically explored using a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design with a sample of
South African adults. By clarifying the direction and strength of these associations, the proposed
research will contribute to a more nuanced understanding of mattering as a dynamic psychological
construct that is both shaped by social-relational experiences and, in turn, shapes individuals’ sense
of meaning and direction. This framing sets the expectations that the study will not experimentally
manipulate mattering nor examine all possible factors simultaneously; rather, it will focus
specifically on the associations between mattering, social support, and purpose in life, while
controlling for relevant sociodemographic variables.
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIENCE OF MATTERING
1. Introduction
The psychological experience of mattering has increasingly been recognised as a fundamental
component of human well-being, yet its systematic investigation within the South African context
remains limited. Mattering, defined as the perception of being significant and important to others,
encompasses beliefs about being noticed, cared about, and depended upon by significant individuals
in one’s social environment (Rosenberg & McCullough, 1981; Flett, 2025). While international
research has robustly demonstrated that mattering is associated with favourable mental health
outcomes, enhanced well-being, and prosocial behaviour, the applicability of these findings to
post-colonial, developing nations such as South Africa is underexplored. The enduring legacy of
apartheid-era systemic dehumanisation, structural inequality, and collective trauma continues to
shape the lived experiences of many South Africans, raising critical questions about how individuals
in this context come to feel that they matter, or conversely, that they are invisible and unimportant
(Penxa-Matholeni, 2025; Radebe, 2025).
If more knowledge were generated about the factors that influence and are influenced by mattering
within South African populations, mental health interventions could be more precisely targeted,
social cohesion initiatives could be strengthened, and community-based healing practices could be
informed by culturally grounded evidence. The proposed research project aims to address this gap by
examining the relationships between mattering and two specific psychological factors derived from
the preselected list for this project: social support and purpose in life. Specifically, this study will
explore how perceived social support from family, friends, and the community relates to individuals’
sense of mattering, and how mattering itself relates to a sense of purpose in life. These relationships
will be scientifically explored using a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design with a sample of
South African adults. By clarifying the direction and strength of these associations, the proposed
research will contribute to a more nuanced understanding of mattering as a dynamic psychological
construct that is both shaped by social-relational experiences and, in turn, shapes individuals’ sense
of meaning and direction. This framing sets the expectations that the study will not experimentally
manipulate mattering nor examine all possible factors simultaneously; rather, it will focus
specifically on the associations between mattering, social support, and purpose in life, while
controlling for relevant sociodemographic variables.
