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J Happiness Stud (2011) 12:861876 DOI 10.1007/s10902-010-9231-9
RESEARCH PAPER
Stefan E. Schulenberg Lindsay W. Schnetzer Erin M. Buchanan
Published online: 21 November 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010
Abstract This studys purpose was to examine the psychometric properties for a brief, four-item form of the 20-item Purpose in Life test (PIL-SF). Conrmatory factor-analytic procedures were used to demonstrate how well the items (3, 4, 8, and 20) t together. Reliability and descriptive data for the PIL-SF are provided, as well as correlations with other measures of well-being and psychological distress. Data are provided with respect to whether the four items are administered independently or within the larger parent form. The nal aspect of the study evaluated whether the PIL-SF was of utility in predicting psychological distress, above and beyond other measures of meaning. This study utilized data from undergraduates (N = 298) from a medium-sized university located in the southern United States. The PIL-SF was supported via conrmatory factor analysis, the measure yields reliable scores, and these scores correlate signicantly and as expected with the other measures administered. Data were similar regardless of whether items were administered independently or embedded in the 20-item PIL. Finally, hierarchical regression demonstrated that PIL-SF scores are useful in predicting psychological distress, offering a psychometric contribution beyond other measures of meaning.
Keywords Logotherapy Meaning Conrmatory factor analysis Purpose in Life test
Short form
1 Introduction
The Purpose in Life test (PIL; Crumbaugh and Maholick 1964, 1969) was designed to assess perceived meaning and life purpose. Logotherapy was a guiding theoretical framework for the instruments development, emphasizing perceived meaning and purpose in life and how these constructs relate to well-being (see for example, Frankl 1985, 1988,
S. E. Schulenberg (&) L. W. Schnetzer
Department of Psychology, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA e-mail: [email protected]
E. M. Buchanan
Department of Psychology, Missouri State University, Springeld, MO 65897, USA
The Purpose in Life Test-Short Form: Development and Psychometric Support
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862 S. E. Schulenberg et al.
2004; Schulenberg et al. 2008). The importance of meaning/purpose in life to the human condition has grown beyond logotherapy to become a core component of Positive Psychology (King et al. 2006; Schulenberg et al. 2008; Wong and Fry 1998). Meaning is positively associated with hope,...