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Exploring and Measuring the Multidimensional Structure of Meaning in Life.

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Title: Exploring and Measuring the Multidimensional Structure of Meaning in Life.
Authors: Wang, Liling1 (AUTHOR), Fu, Junjun2 (AUTHOR), Yang, Mengping1 (AUTHOR), Shi, Ying1 (AUTHOR), Song, Yunping1 (AUTHOR), Wang, Tao2 (AUTHOR), Chen, I-Jun1 (AUTHOR) herbchen66@163.com
Source: Measurement & Evaluation in Counseling & Development. Jan-Mar2026, Vol. 59 Issue 1, p1-22. 22p.
Subject Terms: *Research methodology evaluation, *Content analysis, *Experimental design, *Research methodology, *College students, *Factor analysis, Life, Self-esteem testing, Questionnaires, Descriptive statistics, Data analysis software
Abstract: Objective: This study aimed to systematically examine and integrate different perspectives on existing multidimensional meaning in life (MIL) and develop and validate a new multidimensional MIL scale (MMILS). Method: A mixed-methods approach was used. Study one involved 111 Chinese college students, and data were analyzed by using directed content analysis. Study two collected four samples (n = 507, n = 369, n = 349, n = 74) for exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and validity and reliability testing. Results: Study one identified MIL as a four-dimensional construct: comprehension, purpose, mattering, and experience appreciation. Study two examined the psychometric properties of the developed MMILS, and the results indicated that the scale comprised 22 items, with the four-factor model demonstrating good fit, internal consistency, and adequate validity. Conclusions: MMILS is a reliable and valid tool that can be used to evaluate the MIL of college students in future research. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This study provides additional empirical evidence to clarify the meaning concept and extend the research findings of multi-dimensional MIL. Furthermore, MMILS also assists counselors and mental health providers in enhancing the accuracy of assessments and developing more targeted interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Measurement & Evaluation in Counseling & Development is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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DbLabel: Education Research Complete
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  Label: Title
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  Data: Exploring and Measuring the Multidimensional Structure of Meaning in Life.
– Name: Author
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wang%2C+Liling%22">Wang, Liling</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fu%2C+Junjun%22">Fu, Junjun</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yang%2C+Mengping%22">Yang, Mengping</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shi%2C+Ying%22">Shi, Ying</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Song%2C+Yunping%22">Song, Yunping</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wang%2C+Tao%22">Wang, Tao</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chen%2C+I-Jun%22">Chen, I-Jun</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> herbchen66@163.com</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Measurement+%26+Evaluation+in+Counseling+%26+Development%22">Measurement & Evaluation in Counseling & Development</searchLink>. Jan-Mar2026, Vol. 59 Issue 1, p1-22. 22p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology+evaluation%22">Research methodology evaluation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Content+analysis%22">Content analysis</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Experimental+design%22">Experimental design</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+students%22">College students</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Factor+analysis%22">Factor analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Life%22">Life</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self-esteem+testing%22">Self-esteem testing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Questionnaires%22">Questionnaires</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Descriptive+statistics%22">Descriptive statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis+software%22">Data analysis software</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Objective: This study aimed to systematically examine and integrate different perspectives on existing multidimensional meaning in life (MIL) and develop and validate a new multidimensional MIL scale (MMILS). Method: A mixed-methods approach was used. Study one involved 111 Chinese college students, and data were analyzed by using directed content analysis. Study two collected four samples (n = 507, n = 369, n = 349, n = 74) for exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and validity and reliability testing. Results: Study one identified MIL as a four-dimensional construct: comprehension, purpose, mattering, and experience appreciation. Study two examined the psychometric properties of the developed MMILS, and the results indicated that the scale comprised 22 items, with the four-factor model demonstrating good fit, internal consistency, and adequate validity. Conclusions: MMILS is a reliable and valid tool that can be used to evaluate the MIL of college students in future research. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This study provides additional empirical evidence to clarify the meaning concept and extend the research findings of multi-dimensional MIL. Furthermore, MMILS also assists counselors and mental health providers in enhancing the accuracy of assessments and developing more targeted interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Measurement & Evaluation in Counseling & Development is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/07481756.2025.2524617
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 22
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology evaluation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Content analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Experimental design
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
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      – SubjectFull: College students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Factor analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Life
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self-esteem testing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Questionnaires
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      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
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      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Exploring and Measuring the Multidimensional Structure of Meaning in Life.
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            NameFull: Wang, Liling
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              M: 01
              Text: Jan-Mar2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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