| Variable Name | Variable Label | Description | Variable Type | Source (Section) | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Need for Meaning | meaning_need | Need for meaning score | numeric | Need for Meaning | mean nfm_01 : nfm_10 |
20 Need for Meaning
Cluster: Motivational
20.1 Measure
We used the Need for Meaning Scale (NFMS) by Abeyta & Routledge (2018).
Modifications
The agreement-based Likert scale in the NFMS was altered to match our standard Likert scale for agreement responses.
No original text could be found for the question wording for the NFMS, we therefore adapated our standard intro text and used it here.
20.2 Implementation
Question wording
Participants read the following text:
Please read each of the following statements carefully and rate how strongly you agree or disagree. There are no right or wrong answers and your responses remain anonymous.
Items
| Qlabel | question |
|---|---|
| nfm_01 | If I cannot see the meaning in my life, I don’t let it bother me. |
| nfm_02 | I try hard not to do things that will make me feel like my life lacks meaning |
| nfm_03 | I seldom worry about the meaning of life. |
| nfm_04 | I need to feel that life is full of meaning and purpose. |
| nfm_05 | I want to feel meaningful. |
| nfm_06 | I do not like to feel like life has no real meaning |
| nfm_07 | Being no more significant than any other organism on the planet does not bother me |
| nfm_08 | I have a strong need to find a sense of meaning or purpose in life. |
| nfm_09 | It bothers me a great deal when I feel like my life lacks meaning or purpose. |
| nfm_10 | I am easily distressed by the thought that my life is insignificant and meaningless. |
nfm_07 was excluded
20.3 Coding
The Need for Meaning Scale (nfm_ items) used our standard response scale for agreement:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| strongly disagree | moderately disagree | slightly disagree | neither agree nor disagree | slightly agree | moderately agree | strongly agree |
Items nfm_01, nfm_03, and nfm_07 are reverse coded