A Polish Adaptation of the Multidimensional Existential Meaning Scale: Internal Structure, Reliability, and Validity

Abstract

The aim of this article was to present a Polish adaptation of the Multidimensional Existential Meaning Scale (MEMS) developed by George and Park (2017). The scale proposes a tripartite view of meaning in life, measuring it in three different dimensions: Comprehension, Purpose, and Mattering, which is a new interesting approach to the conceptualization of this factor from a broader, existential perspective. The scale testing procedure involved a research sample consisting of 401 participants. In addition to the MEMS scale, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) and the Purpose in Life Test (PIL) were used. The results obtained with the Polish version confirmed its reliability and validity, and the three-factor structure. The Cronbach’s α coefficient was .91 for the entire scale and oscillated between .72 and .89 for the subscales. The Polish MEMS contains 9 items; therefore, it is a short tool which can be successfully used in research on meaning in life.