Meaning in Life Questionnaire

The Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) is a 10-item self-report measure developed by Steger and colleagues in 2006 to assess both the presence of meaning and the active search for meaning in life. It addresses a core existential dimension of well-being: the degree to which individuals experience their life as purposeful and meaningful. The MLQ distinguishes presence of meaning from search for meaning, revealing that growth and psychological adjustment can involve active meaning-seeking even when current meaning-presence is lower.