The Development and Validation of the Meaning Approach Scale: Traditional, Functionalistic and Critical-Intuitive Approaches to Meaning in Life

Abstract

Many Indo-European languages refer to meaning in life with three groups of terms (e.g. vocation/significance/Bezeichnung, meaning/purpose/Meinung, sense/Sinn). These etymologies seem to refer to traditional, functionalistic and critical-intuitive/phenomenological approaches to life. This study aimed to develop and validate a psychometric instrument measuring traditional, functionalistic and critical-intuitive/phenomenological approaches to meaning in life. Eight experts developed consensus definitions and generated items for the Meaning Approach Scale (MAS) in a Delphi-study. A Three-Step-Test-Interview with eight participants, Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Item Response Theory in an informal survey of 108 participants, reduced the initial 56-item MAS-56 to MAS-45, with sub-scales for traditional, functionalistic and critical-intuitive/phenomenological approaches. The MAS-45 was validated in a survey of 1281 participants in 49 countries, with reliability, factor structure and correlations with other questionnaires as hypothesized. Traditional and functionalistic approaches correlated with negative affects, low quality-of-life and life satisfaction, whereas critical-intuitive/phenomenological approaches correlated with positive affects, quality-of-life and life satisfaction. Functionalistic approaches were reported more frequently in Western countries and traditional and critical-intuitive approaches in less Western countries. This study indicates the MAS-45 to be valid and reliable, differentiating three approaches to life. Individuals benefit most from a critical-intuitive/phenomenological approach, which therapists may consider exploring with clients.