Meaning in life in medical settings: A new measure correlating with psychological variables in disease

Figures & data

Table 1. Descriptive and reliability statistics of the meaning in life scale

	N	M	SD	Cronbach’ α	C.R.
Sample 1 (mixed)	200	27.67	3.88	0.76	0.85
Sample 2 (female)	150	28.09	4.44	0.78	0.86
Sample 3 (male)	92	28.16	4.50	0.74	0.84
Sample 4 (mixed healthy)	88	28.10	3.93	0.76	0.84

Table 2. Descriptive statistics of the meaning in life scale concerning type of cancer

	N	M	SD
Colorectal cancer	200	27.67	3.88
Breast cancer	148	28.09	4.44
Prostatic cancer	65	28.77	4.11

Table 3. Convergent validity

	Depression	Anxiety	Distress	Q.O.L.	SWLS	Optimism	Social support
ML sample 1	−.538**	−.697**		.353**
	n = 200	n = 200		n = 199
ML sample 2	−.548**	−.482**	−.560**		.350*	.528**
	n = 148	n = 148	n = 148		n = 65	n = 65
ML sample 3	−.254*					.374**
	n = 92					n = 65
ML sample 4							.420**
							n = 88

* Significant at .05 level.

** Significant at .01 level.

Table

	ConcordoMuito	Concordo	Não tenho a certeza	Discordo	Discordo Muito
	I strongly agree	I agree	I am not sure	I disagree	I strongly disagree
1. Tenho interesse pela vida e faço planos	1	2	3	4	5
I have interest in life and I make plans
2. A minha vida é vivida em vão	1	2	3	4	5
My life is lived in vain
3. Apesar das contingências procuro seguir um plano coerente de vida interior	1	2	3	4	5
In spite of the contingencies I try to pursue a coherent inner life plan
4. Desenvolvo as potencialidades que tenho	1	2	3	4	5
I develop my own potentialities
5. Sinto falta de uma missão na vida na qual me empenhe	1	2	3	4	5
I feel I need a mission in my life to engage in
6. Sinto-me pouco realizado/a como pessoa	1	2	3	4	5
I feel slight fulfilled as a person
7. Vivo de acordo com o que gosto e com os meus valores	1	2	3	4	5
I live accordingly with my preferences and my values