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A growing body of evidence suggests that meaning in life (MiL) is a predictor of health behaviors and outcomes. However, previous research has relied on self-report ratings of a global sense of MiL (i.e., how meaningful individuals perceive their lives to be in general or overall) to study the relationships between MiL and health. Meaning salience is a recently introduced construct in the literature that allows for more nuanced investigation of the ways in which MiL may influence individuals on a day-to-day or moment-to-moment basis. The purpose of the present study was to continue the development of a measure of meaning salience, the Meaning Awareness Scale (MAS), which assesses for phenomenological salience of MiL in everyday life. Using a cross-sectional design, this study included a nationwide sample of adults (N = 342) to: (a) explore the factor structure of the MAS, (b) conduct item reduction of the MAS, (c) assess the internal consistency of the MAS, and (d) conduct a preliminary analysis of the criterion-related validity of the MAS. Results indicate that the 6-item MAS represents one factor and demonstrates strong internal consistency. Findings provide preliminary evidence in support of the criterion-related validity of the MAS. This study offers a means to measure a new and innovative construct related to MiL (i.e., meaning salience) that may lend itself well to intensive longitudinal methods and a more precise investigation of the relationships between MiL, health behaviors, and outcomes.
Advisor: | Masters, Kevin S. |
Commitee: | Morozink Boylan, Jennifer, Shaffer, Jonathan A. |
School: | University of Colorado at Denver |
Department: | Psychology (Clinical Psychology) |
School Location: | United States -- Colorado |
Source: | MAI 81/12(E), Masters Abstracts International |
Source Type: | DISSERTATION |
Subjects: | Psychology, Clinical psychology, Behavioral psychology |
Keywords: | Brief measure, Meaning awareness scale, Meaning in life, Meaning salience, Psychometric, Scale development |
Publication Number: | 27964020 |
ISBN: | 9798641359786 |