Development of the Relational Meaning in Life Questionnaire: Relational Meaning in Life and Well-Being
Year: 2020
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Meaning in life has long been argued and found to be important in psychological adjustment and well-being. While personal meaning in life has been well studied as a correlate and predictor of many personal well-being outcomes, it is unclear how relational meaning in life contributes to well-being, especially to relational/interpersonal well-being outcomes. Study 1 developed and examined the factor structure and reliability of the Relational Meaning in Life Questionnaire (RMLQ). An exploratory factor analysis and a confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-factor model. Results also indicated that the RMLQ is reliable across a 5-6 week period. Study 2 examined for the utility of the RMLQ in predicting interpersonal well-being and adjustment outcomes, above and beyond personal meaning in life. Results indicated that although personal meaning in life accounts for significant variance in all of the interpersonal well-being outcomes examined in the study, relational meaning in life accounts for a significant amount of unique variance above and beyond personal meaning in life for the majority of interpersonal well-being outcomes examined. Study 3 examined for the utility of the RMLQ in predicting both personal and interpersonal well-being and adjustment outcomes, above and beyond social support. Results indicated that although social support accounts for a significant amount of variance in all outcomes examined, relational meaning in life accounts for a significant amount of unique variance above and beyond social support for several well-being outcomes. Overall, dissertation findings suggest that for researchers interested in studying relational meaning in life as a predictor of interpersonal well-being outcomes and conditions in adults, the RMLQ might prove to be an important and useful measure.
Author: Elizabeth A. Yu
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3154473255