Meaning in Life Questionnaire
Also known as: MLQ
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.
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When to use it
Research on existential well-being and life meaning; clinical assessment of depression and suicide risk (low meaning presence is a risk factor); evaluation of meaning-centered interventions (logotherapy, existential therapy, meaning-based psychotherapy); life transition research (career change, retirement, major loss); qualitative exploration of how meaning relates to resilience, recovery, and post-traumatic growth; organizational research on purpose and employee engagement.
Strengths & limitations
- Two-dimensional structure (Presence and Search) provides nuanced insight into meaning as both outcome and process
- Brief 10-item format balances comprehensiveness with practicality
- Strong psychometric properties: internal consistency α > 0.80 for both subscales across diverse samples
- Validated in clinical populations (depression, suicidality, trauma recovery) and non-clinical samples; available in 20+ languages
- Theoretically grounded in existential psychology; Presence and Search show distinct correlates with well-being outcomes
- Sensitive to change in meaning-focused interventions (logotherapy, grief counseling, spiritual direction)
- Search for Meaning subscale shows complex relationships with mental health outcomes; active seeking can correlate with both growth and psychological distress depending on context
- Cultural variation in how meaning is conceptualized and expressed may affect item interpretation across nations
- Does not assess domains of meaning (e.g., work, relationships, spirituality) separately; provides only global presence and search dimensions
- Self-report bias: individuals may underestimate or overestimate both presence and active search based on social desirability
- Presence and Search can be independent; neither alone fully captures the dynamic process of meaning-making
Frequently asked
What does high Search for Meaning indicate if Presence of Meaning is low?
High Search with low Presence may indicate existential struggle or transition—the individual is actively engaged in finding purpose but has not yet achieved a stable sense of meaning. This pattern often precedes growth and can be adaptive if supported; however, prolonged high-search-low-presence states warrant attention in clinical contexts.
Is the Meaning in Life Questionnaire appropriate for assessing suicidality?
The MLQ is not a suicide risk assessment tool but presence of meaning is a protective factor and low Presence is associated with suicidal ideation. Incorporate MLQ results into comprehensive suicide risk evaluation alongside clinical interview, intent assessment, and protective factors screening.
What is the relationship between Search for Meaning and mental health outcomes?
Search for Meaning shows a nuanced relationship with outcomes: in combination with adequate Presence, searching correlates with resilience and growth. Isolated high Search with low Presence may correlate with anxiety or depression. Context and trajectory matter; ongoing searching in a framework of meaning is adaptive.
Can the MLQ be used to measure outcome in meaning-centered interventions?
Yes. The MLQ is responsive to change and has been used to evaluate logotherapy, existential psychotherapy, and meaning-centered stress reduction. Typical findings show increases in Presence and sometimes increases in Search as individuals develop deeper, more intentional relationships with life meaning.
Sources
- Steger, M. F., Frazier, P., Kaler, M., & Oishi, S. (2006). The Meaning in Life Questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(1), 80–92. DOI: 10.1037/0022-0167.53.1.80 ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Meaning in Life Questionnaire. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/positive-psychology/meaning-in-life-questionnaire
Which method?
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