Levels of satisfaction with the life project of stationary informal merchants
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62580/ipsc.2025.10.214Keywords:
Satisfaction, life project, hopelessness, quantitative studyAbstract
This research is highly relevant, as self-actualization is a psychological need whose lack of fulfillment can be reflected in individuals’ mental health. The main objective of this study is to identify the level of satisfaction with the life project of informal vendors in the microcenter of Florencia, considering that informal traders often face challenges in meeting basic needs (physiological and safety needs according to Abraham Maslow) due to job instability (Benach et al., 2015). This situation hinders access to higher needs such as self-actualization. To this end, a quantitative study was conducted using a sociodemographic survey, Diener’s Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985), and Beck’s Learned Helplessness Scale (Beck et al., 1974). The results revealed a differentiation between life satisfaction and self-actualization: although informal vendors are satisfied with their lives, they are not satisfied with their personal achievements. Furthermore, it was observed that the quantitative approach limits a deeper understanding of life projects; therefore, a mixed-methods study is recommended. It is also suggested to establish exclusion criteria based on age and the length of time individuals have been engaged in this occupation, as these factors influence the satisfaction levels of informal vendors (Topino et al., 2022).
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Copyright (c) 2025 Hernán David Romero-Reyes, Kelly Johana Daza-Dorado, Gabriela Puerto-Galindo (Autor/a)
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