Development of the Meaning in Life Measure. Issue 2 (3rd April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hill, Clara E.; Kline, Kathryn V.; Miller, Matthew; Marks, Ellen; Pinto-Coelho, Kristen; Zetzer, Heidi
• Is Part Of: Counselling psychology quarterly. Volume 32:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 205
• Page End: 226
• Publication Date: 2019-04-03
• Subjects: Meaning in life -- felt sense -- mattering -- purpose -- coherence -- reflectivity; Counseling -- Periodicals; 158.3
• DOI: 10.1080/09515070.2018.1434483
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0951-5070

Abstract

Abstract: To correct problems identified in existing measures of meaning in life (MIL) (lack of inclusion of items related to felt sense, mattering, and reflectivity), a new 8-item Meaning in Life Measure (MILM) was developed. Two subscales emerged: Experience (MILM-E, with items related to felt sense, mattering, goals, coherence) and Reflectivity (MILM-R, with items related to valuing thinking about meaning). High internal consistency and test–retest reliability were found for both subscales. Concurrent validity was demonstrated by a strong positive correlation between MILM-E and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire-Presence (MLQ-P), and a moderate correlation between MILM-R and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire-Search (MLQ-S). For both subscales, small to moderate positive correlations were found with subjective well-being, extraversion, conscientiousness, openness, agreeableness, self-deception, and impression management; moderate negative correlations were found with depression and emotional instability. Participants who were older, female, of higher income, and married with children scored slightly higher than their counterparts on MILM-E; women scored slightly higher than men on MILM-R. We concluded that the MILM has good psychometric properties and that MIL seems to be composed of two factors.