Development and Psychometric Properties of a Scale to Measure the Meaning of Life (MLS)

The concept of meaning of life is of considerable significance to the Peruvian population, functioning as a protective factor that mitigates the occurrence of self-destructive behaviors. It constitutes a vital element of mental health, fostering personal development, adaptability to change, psychological well-being, life satisfaction, self-esteem, and optimism. The aim of this research was to develop and validate the Meaning of Life Scale (MLS) designed for the Peruvian population. This study involved 646 individuals aged between 18 and 69 years. One dimension was used, called the Presence of Life Meaning, and both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were carried out, along with a reliability analysis. The results supported a unifactorial model with adequate indices (χ²(2) = 2.391, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.998, TLI = 0.995, RMSEA = 0.025, SRMR = 0.016) and high internal consistency (α = 0.878, ω = 0.878). The findings of this study offer preliminary evidence of the validity and reliability of the MLS.