Menempa Diri di Tanah Rantau: Deskripsi Kekuatan dan Kebajikan pada Mahasiswa Perantau di Yogyakarta

Abstract

This study aims to describe the character strengths possessed by migrant students in Yogyakarta and to understand the role these strengths play in helping them face the challenges of living away from home. This research employs a descriptive qualitative approach with 293 participants, aged between 20 and 28 years, who are students from outside Yogyakarta. Data were collected through an open-ended questionnaire asking participants to identify five personal strengths along with an explanation of each. The data were analyzed using thematic content analysis to identify emerging themes in participants' responses. The results indicate that the main categories of strengths among migrant students are “relationships with others” (38%), followed by “personal values” (33%), “self-efficacy” (22%), and “future-oriented abilities” (6%). This study is expected to contribute to the development of positive psychology interventions based on character strengths to support the psychological well-being of migrant students. The implications highlight the importance of strengthening character in the context of social and academic adaptation in a new environment. Future research is recommended to explore the impact of character strengths on the long-term well-being of migrant students and to consider broader cultural contexts.