Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) is a 10-item instrument designed to measure the respondent's sense made of, and significance felt, regarding the nature of one's being and existence. This measure includes two subscales, Presence and Search.
Geographies Tested: United States of America
Populations Included: Female, Male
Age Range: Adults
Presence
1. I understand my life's meaning.
2. My life has a clear sense of purpose.
3. I have a good sense of what makes my life meaningful.
4. I have discovered a satisfying life purpose.
5. My life has no clear purpose.*
Search
6. I am looking for something that makes my life feel meaningful.
7. I am always looking to find my life's purpose.
8. I am always searching for something that makes my life feel significant.
9. I am seeking a purpose or mission for my life.
10. I am searching for meaning in my life.
Response Options:
Absolutely untrue - 1
Mostly untrue - 2
Somewhat untrue - 3
Can't say true or false - 4
Somewhat true - 5
Mostly true - 6
Absolutely true - 7
*Item is reverse scored.
The mean score is calculated for each of the two subscales.
Steger, M. F., Frazier, P., Oishi, S., & Kaler, M. (2006). The meaning in life questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(1), 80-93. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.53.1.80
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