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Measuring Meaning in Life

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Abstract

The present studies addressed the need for a comprehensive, economical, and psychometrically adequate measure of existential meaning. In Study 1, principal-axis factor analysis of participants’ responses to popular meaning measures identified five latent constructs underlying them, labelled purposeful life, principled life, valued life, exciting life, and accomplished life. These dimensions resonate with the meaning in life concept as understood by Frankl (1963. Man’s search for meaning. (Revised Ed.) London: Hodder & Stoughton) and the panoply of subsequent theoretical definitions (e.g. Battista and Almond. (1973). Psychiatry, 36, 409–427; 2000. Exploring existential meaning: Optimising human development across the life span (pp. 39–55). USA: Sage; 1998. The human quest for meaning: A handbook of psychological research and clinical applications (pp. 11–140). Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum). Study 2 used these results as a foundation for developing a psychometrically satisfactory self-report questionnaire of each of these aspects of meaning in life. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) validated a five-factor structure, with each factor loading on a common second-order factor. Study 3 provided evidence for this new measure’s convergent validity and economic property. The final Meaningful Life Measure is reported and provides comprehensive but differentiated measurement of the meaning in life construct.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Social Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9RH, UK

    Jessica Morgan & Tom Farsides

Authors
  1. Jessica Morgan
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  2. Tom Farsides
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Correspondence to Jessica Morgan.

Appendix: The Meaningful Life Measure (MLM)

Appendix: The Meaningful Life Measure (MLM)

  1. 1.

    Life to me seems: ...completely routine (1); ...always exciting (7).

  2. 2.

    Every day is: ...exactly the same (1); ...constantly new and different (7).

  3. 3.

    Facing my daily tasks is: ...a painful and boring experience (1); ...a source of pleasure and satisfaction (7).

  4. 4.

    My life interests and excites me.

  5. 5.

    My daily living is dull and routine.

  6. 6.

    I find it satisfying to think about what I have accomplished in life.

  7. 7.

    So far, I am pleased with what I have achieved in life.

  8. 8.

    I have been very successful in achieving certain things.

  9. 9.

    I have failed to accomplish much in life.

  10. 10.

    I feel good when I think of the things I have accomplished in life.

  11. 11.

    I have a system or framework that allows me to truly understand my being alive.

  12. 12.

    I have a philosophy of life that really gives my living significance.

  13. 13.

    I have a personal value system that makes my living worthwhile.

  14. 14.

    The beliefs I hold about the world enable me to make sense out of my existence.

  15. 15.

    I hold certain values which I feel greatly enrich my life with significance.

  16. 16.

    In my life I have: ...no goals or aims at all (1); ...very clear goals and aims (7).

  17. 17.

    I have discovered: ...no mission or purpose in life (1); ...clear-cut goals and a satisfying life purpose (7).

  18. 18.

    I have a clear idea of what my future goals and aims are.

  19. 19.

    I tend to wander aimlessly through life, without much sense of purpose or direction.

  20. 20.

    My life is worthwhile.

  21. 21.

    My life is significant.

  22. 22.

    I really value my life.

  23. 23.

    I hold my own life in high regard.

Please read each of the following statements carefully and then circle the appropriate number to indicate your opinion. Please answer according to the scale below, unless otherwise stated

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Slightly disagree

Neither disagree or agree

Slightly agree

Agree

Strongly agree

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Syntax to create MLM subscales: reverse-scored = 5, 9, 19; exciting Life = 1–5; accomplished life = 6–10; principled life = 11–15; purposeful life = 16–19; valued life = 20–23.

Note. Items 1, 2, 3, 16, 17 are from the Purpose in Life Test (Crumbaugh and Maholick 1964); item 6 is from the Purpose in Life Scale (Ryff 1989); items 11 & 12 are from the Life Regard Index (Battista and Almond 1973).

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Morgan, J., Farsides, T. Measuring Meaning in Life. J Happiness Stud 10, 197–214 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-007-9075-0

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