Cited by 379Psychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionReligion, Spirituality, and PsychologyPsychometric Methodologies and Testing

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The Multidimensional Existential Meaning Scale: A tripartite approach to measuring meaning in life

George, Login S., Park, Crystal L.·2017·The Journal of Positive Psychology

DOI 10.1080/17439760.2016.1209546

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Abstract

To address conceptual difficulties and advance research on meaning in life (MIL), it may be useful to adopt a tripartite view of meaning as consisting of comprehension, purpose, and mattering. This paper discusses the development of the Multidimensional Existential Meaning Scale (MEMS), which explicitly assesses these three subconstructs. Results from three samples of undergraduates showed the MEMS to have favorable psychometric properties (e.g. good factor structure and reliability) and demonstrated that it can effectively differentiate the three subconstructs of meaning. Regression and relative importance analyses showed that each MEMS subscale carried predictive power for relevant variables and other meaning measures. Additionally, the MEMS subscales demonstrated theoretically consistent, differential associations with other variables (e.g. dogmatism, behavioral activation, and spirituality). Overall, results suggest that the MEMS may offer more conceptual precision than existing measures, and it may open new avenues of research and facilitate a more nuanced understanding of MIL.

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Authors: George, L. S., & Park, C. L.
Affiliations: University of Connecticut (US)
Corresponding author: George, Login S.
ORCID: George, Login S.
Park, Crystal L.
Venue: The Journal of Positive Psychology
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2016-07-26
Volume: 12
Issue: 6
Pages: 613-627
ISSN: 1743-9760 (ISSN-L)
1743-9779
DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2016.1209546
OpenAlex: W2504320773
Cited by: 379
References: 73
Citations by year: 2026: 36 · 2025: 58 · 2024: 50 · 2023: 51 · 2022: 66 · 2021: 48 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 1
FWCI: 19.92
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: The Journal of Positive Psychology (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
Keywords: meaning in life, existential meaning, purpose, mattering, comprehension, scale development, psychometric properties, dogmatism, behavioral activation, spirituality, relative importance analysis

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The Multidimensional Existential Meaning Scale: A tripartite approach to measuring meaning in life

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