Psychometric Properties of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire in People Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder*

Propiedades psicométricas del Meaning in Life Questionnaire en personas diagnosticadas con Trastorno Límite de la Personalidad

Joaquín García-Alandete , Sandra Pérez , Fátima Lorca-Alamar , Verónica Guillén , José H. Marco

Psychometric Properties of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire in People Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder*

Universitas Psychologica, vol. 24, 2025

Pontificia Universidad Javeriana

Joaquín García-Alandete a

Universitat de València, España


Sandra Pérez

Universidad Villanueva, España


Fátima Lorca-Alamar

Universidad Villanueva, España


Verónica Guillén

Universitat de València, España


José H. Marco

Universitat de València, España


Received: 09 january 2025

Accepted: 24 march 2025

Abstract: This study analyzed the psychometric properties of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) in a sample of people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Participants were 102 residents in Spain (74 women, 72.55 %; 26 men, 25.49 %; and 2 missing data, 1.96 %) age-ranged from 18 years to 68 years old (M= 37.69; SD = 12.66) diagnosed with BPD, who completed the MLQ, Purpose in Life Test-10 Items (PIL-10), and Dissociative Experiences Scale II (DES-II). The bidimensional model for the MLQ (Presence of Meaning: MLQ-P, and Search for Meaning: MLQ-S) showed an adequate internal consistency and an excellent fit. The MLQ-P and MLQ-S subcales correlated positively. The MLQ-P scale showed a positive correlation with the PIL-10 and a negative correlation with the DES-II. Introducing meaning in life into interventions with BPD patients can be a useful way to help them to find purpose in their lives, alleviate their existential suffering, and cope with the clinical symptomatology of BPD.

Keywords:meaning in life, borderline personality disorder, Meaning in Life Questionnaire, dissociative experiences, psychometric properties.

Resumen: Este estudio analizó las propiedades psicométricas del Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) en una muestra de personas diagnosticadas con Trastorno Límite de la Personalidad (TLP). Participaron 102 residentes en España (74 mujeres, 72.55 %; 26 hombres, 25.49 %; y 2 datos faltantes, 1.96 %), con edades entre los 18 y los 68 años (M = 37.69; DE = 12.66), todos diagnosticados con TLP. Los participantes completaron el MLQ, el Purpose in Life Test-10 Items (PIL-10) y la Dissociative Experiences Scale II (DES-II). El modelo bidimensional del MLQ (Presencia de Sentido: MLQ-P, y Búsqueda de Sentido: MLQ-S) mostró una consistencia interna adecuada y un ajuste excelente. Las subescalas MLQ-P y MLQ-S se correlacionaron positivamente. La escala MLQ-P presentó una correlación positiva con el PIL-10 y una correlación negativa con la DES-II. Incluir el sentido de vida en las intervenciones con pacientes con TLP puede ser una vía útil para ayudarlos a encontrar propósito, aliviar su sufrimiento existencial y afrontar la sintomatología clínica del trastorno.

Palabras clave: sentido de vida, trastorno límite de la personalidad, cuestionario de sentido de vida, experiencias disociativas, propiedades psicométricas.

Meaning in life in people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder

According to Viktor Emil Frankl, the founder of logotherapy, the most important motivational aspect of human existence is the feeling that one’s life is meaningful, and a lack of meaning in life (MiL) can lead to experiencing an existential vacuum and a strong need for MiL (e.g., Frankl, 2010; Martela & Steger, 2016). As many researchers have proposed (e.g., George & Park, 2016), an essential dimension of MiL is having a goal, purpose, or mission in life.

Individuals with BPD often struggle to find purpose in life, leading to worsened symptoms and feelings of discomfort and hopelessness. BPD is characterized by unstable emotions, self-image, relationships, impulsivity, and a fear of abandonment. Those with BPD may face challenges in forming a coherent sense of purpose due to an unstable self-concept and shifting goals, values, and desires. Their fear of rejection can also hinder meaningful relationships, contributing to a lack of direction, emptiness, and a general sense of meaninglessness, making it difficult to establish a stable identity or find MiL.

The relationship between MiL and emotional difficulties in patients with BPD can be understood more deeply by integrating contemporary approaches to the relationships between narrative identity and existential emptiness (e.g., Egerstrom, 2015; McAdams & McLean, 2013). In this context, MiL is seen as a dynamic construction closely linked to the way in which people narrate their personal story and find coherence in their identity. For BPD patients, emotional instability and difficulty maintaining a coherent self-concept can make it difficult to construct a stable narrative, contributing to a fragmented or empty sense of life (e.g., Marco, Pérez et al., 2017).

From the perspective of narrative identity, BPD patients may experience a disconnect between different chapters of their life, which can create an existential void characterized by a lack of purpose and direction. This narrative disconnect can exacerbate emotional difficulties, as the perception of a void in identity can lead to feelings of hopelessness, confusion, and anxiety. In addition, existential emptiness, understood as the feeling of not finding deep MiL, can intensify emotional fluctuations, as the constant search for purpose and stability can lead to emotional overload.

Integrating narrative psychotherapy and meaning-centered therapy into BPD treatment could make it possible to address existential emptiness and emotional difficulties from a perspective that not only focuses on affective regulation, but also on the reconstruction of a coherent and meaningful identity. This could facilitate a therapeutic approach that helps patients integrate their past experiences, recognize patterns in their personal narrative, and find a more stable MiL, which could reduce the intensity of emotional fluctuations and promote greater long-term emotional stability (e.g., Haeyen et al., 2024).

The Meaning in Life Questionnaire

Access to instruments with strong psychometric properties is essential for assessing MiL in individuals with mental disorders. This is crucial for evaluating the inclusion of therapeutic resources focused on MiL in treatment (e.g., Wong, 2012). Since the late 1960s, several instruments have been proposed to assess MiL (Brandstätter et al., 2012). One of them is the Meaning in Life Questionnaire [MLQ] (Steger et al., 2006), a 10-item scale that assesses how people feel their lives are in terms of MiL [Presence of Meaning: MLQ-P] and how engaged and motivated people are in their efforts to find MiL [Search for Meaning: MLQ-S]. The items are rated on a 7-point Likert scale (1 = Absolutely untrue; 7 = Absolutely true), yielding a range from 5 to 35 for each subscale. The higher the score, the stronger the presence of/search for MiL. The presence of MiL is defined as the sense and significance individuals feel about their existence, while the search for MiL refers to the strength and intensity of their efforts to understand and enhance the meaning, significance, and purpose of their lives (Steger et al., 2006; Steger et al., 2008). These authors found acceptable fit and reliability for the MLQ, as well as adequate convergent and discriminant validity, and that the MLQ-P correlated positively with various measures of health and well-being whereas the MLQ-S correlated negatively with these measures. The MLQ is a useful tool for both therapeutic and research activities (Steger & Shin, 2010).

In many studies the psychometric properties of the MLQ have been reported in both non-clinical and clinical populations, confirming the reliability and factor structure of this scale (Table 1). Some of these studies found a negative correlationship between the MLQ-P and MLQ-S subcales, whereas other studies have reported a positive correlationship, probably due to the influence of sociocultural differences on MiL (e.g., Heintzelman & King, 2014). Most studies found positive correlations between the MLQ-P and measures of MiL, life satisfaction, psychological well-being, and positive affect, while the MLQ-S showed negative correlations with these measures. The only exception was the Schulenberg et al.’s (2011) study, which involved individuals with mental disorders, none of whom had BPD.

Table 1
Studies that have analyzed the psychometric properties of the MLQ

Studies that have analyzed the psychometric properties
of the MLQ

Note. nr = Not reported; ns = Not significant; EFA = Exploratory Factor Analysis; CFA = Confirmatory Factor Analysis.


This study analyzed the internal consistency, structural validity, and construct validity of the MLQ in a sample of Spanish individuals diagnosed with BPD. Based on Steger et al.’s (2006) theory, it was expected that the MLQ would demonstrate both structural and construct validity, along with acceptable internal consistency, and that the MLQ-P and MLQ-S subscales would be negatively correlated. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine these psychometric properties of the MLQ in people with BPD, making it a novel contribution to the analysis of the instrument.

Examining the MLQ scale in a Spanish-speaking population diagnosed with BPD can contribute to the existing knowledge base regarding the relationship between MiL and mental health in different cultural contexts. It can provide insights into the unique challenges and experiences faced by Spanish-speaking individuals with BPD, which may differ from those of English-speaking populations.

Method

Design and statistical power of the present study

The methodological design of the present study is that of an instrumental analysis of psychometric validation, theoretically supported by the specialized methodological literature (López-Pina & Veas, 2024).

Statistical power was calculated using G*Power version 3.1.9.4 (Faul et al., 2009). The post hoc analysis showed that the power achieved was 0.72, indicating that the study had sufficient power to detect medium effect sizes (f 2 = 0.15) with a significance level of 0.05 (Cohen, 1988).

Participants

The study involved 102 individuals diagnosed with BPD, residing in Spain, and recruited from three outpatient mental health services. Psychologists from these institutions recruited participants, who were informed about the research and encouraged to participate voluntarily. A clinical psychologist from the research team that carried out this study established the participants’ diagnoses in the outpatient medical services by using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders-Clinician Version [SCID-5-CV] (First et al., 2016). The inclusion criteria were that participants had to be aged ≥ 18 years old, and satisfy the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) criteria for a BPD (American Psychological Association [APA], 2013). The exclusion criterion was being diagnosed with psychosis or moderate/severe intellectual disability. Table 2 shows the participants’ sociodemographic characteristics.

Table 2
Participants’ sociodemographic characteristics

Participants’
sociodemographic characteristics

Note. N = 102. Participants were age-ranged from 18 to 68 years, M = 37.69, SD = 12.66.


Procedure

This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Health Department of the ANONYMIZED. The participants provided their documented informed consent to participate in this study. The ethical standards for research involving human subjects and the 2013 revised Helsinki statement standards were met.

Participants were assessed individually at the above-mentioned health outpatient services and diagnosed using the DSM-5 (APA, 2013) criteria for BPD. The informed consent was administered and signed prior to the assessment, and participants did not receive any compensation for their participation.

Instruments

Meaning in Life Questionnaire [MLQ] (Steger et al., 2006). The MLQ was translated following the guidelines provided by the International Test Commission (2010). First, two Spanish university professors who are proficient in English and specialists in logotherapy independently translated the English version of the MLQ (Steger, 2010) into Spanish. Then, the authors of this study revised both translations, resulting in a version that was finally revised and improved by a native English-speaking professional translator, text editor, and bilingual consultant. The final translation was used in this study.

Purpose in Life Test-10 Items [PIL-10] (García-Alandete et al., 2013). This scale is a 10-item Spanish adaptation of the PIL (Crumbaugh & Maholic, 1969), which assesses MiL based on logotherapeutic assumptions. The items on the PIL-10 are answered on a Likert scale (from 1 to 7, with a specific anchor for each item). The total score ranges from 10 to 70. In this study, the PIL-10 showed excellent internal consistency, ω = 0.95.

Dissociative Experiences Scale II (DES-II; Carlson & Putman, 1993). The Spanish adaptation by Icarán et al. (1996) was used. The DES-II is a self-reported 28-item scale that assesses different types of dissociative phenomena (amnesia, depersonalization/derealization, and absorption), by asking about how often people may have some experiences in daily life (participants have to select the number, from 0% to 100%, to show what percentage of the time they have the experience). In this study the DES-II showed excellent internal consistency, ω = 0.94.

Statistical Analyses

Means, standard deviations, skewness, kurtosis, item-subscale correlationships, and the change in the McDonald’s ω of both the MLQ-P and MLQ-S subscales if any item was dropped were calculated. To estimate the internal consistency of both the MLQ-P and MLQ-S subscales, McDonald’s omega (ω) (McDonald, 1999; Ventura‐León & Caycho‐Rodríguez, 2017) and Cronbach’s alpha (a) (Cronbach, 1951; Tavakol & Dennick, 2011) were used.

Then, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the MLQ was carried out. The sample size in this study was sufficient to make statistical inferences about the model fit of the MLQ (n/p = 10.2) (Pituch & Stevens, 2015). Because Mardia’s coefficient for multivariate kurtosis (normalized estimate) was > 5 and the data were ordinal, robust method and Diagonally Weighted Least Squares estimators were used (e.g., Mindrila, 2010). The fit indices used were Chi-Square (χ2), the Comparative Fit Index (CFI), the Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI), the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA), and the Starndardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR). For both the CFI and TLI, values ≥ 0.90 indicate acceptable fit and values ≥ 0.95 indicate good model fit; for both the RMSEA and SRMR, values ≤ 0.08 indicate acceptable model fit and values ≤ .05 indicate good model fit (e.g., Kline, 2016).

To report the construct validity of the MLQ, the correlations with the PIL-10 and the DES-II were analyzed. Because these scales are ordinal, Spearman’s rho (ρ) was used for the correlations. Interpretation of effect sizes was based on Cohen (1988).

To carry out all the statistical analyses mentioned in this section, the JASP 0.16 software (JASP Team, 2021) was used.

Results

Descriptive statistics, internal consistency, and item-total correlationships of the MLQ subscales

Table 3 shows descriptive statistics, item-total correlationships, and changes in ω of both the MLQ-P and MLQ-S subcales if any item was dropped. The means for both the MLQ-P and MLQ-S subscales, which were below the score 24 (17.75 and 23.12 respectively), indicate low purpose of meaning and low motivation to search for meaning, according to Steger (2010). The item-total correlations were > 0.60 for the MLQ-P (except the correlation for item 9, which was below .40) and > 0.40 for the MLQ-S.

Both the MLQ-P and MLQ-S subcales showed high internal consistency: MLQ-P, w = 0.85 (95% CI [0.80, 0.89]) and a = .83 (95% CI [0.78, 0.89]), MLQ-S, w = 0.83 w (95% CI [0.77, 0.88]) and a = .82 (95% CI [0.77, 0.88]). Although the internal consistency of the MLQ-P subcale improved by removing item 9 (My life has no clear purpose), we decided to retain it following Steger et al.’s (2006) suggestion. The item-total correlationships were > 0.60 for the MLQ-P subscale (except the correlation for item 9, which was below 0.40) and > .40 for the MLQ-S subscale.

Table 3
Descriptive statistics, item-total correlations, and internal consistency if any item was dropped from the MLQ subscales

Descriptive statistics, item-total correlations, and internal consistency
if any item was dropped from the MLQ subscales

Note. MLQ = Meaning in Life Questionnaire; MLQ-P = Presence of Meaning; MLQ-S = Search for Meaning. In Italics, reverse-coded item. Standard Error of skewness = 0.24. Standard Error of kurtosis = 0.47. In brackets, the 95% confidence interval. The effect sizes of the correlationships are according to Cohen (1988): S = Strong, M = Moderate


Structural validity of the MLQ

It was found that the bidimensional model for the MLQ suggested by Steger et al. (2006) showed an excellent fit, χ2(34) = 39.16, p = 0.25, CFI = 0.99, TLI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.04 (95% CI [0.00, 0.09]), SRMR = 0.10. All parameters were significant at the level of 0.001 (Figure 1). The standardized loadings of the items on their respective subcales were above 0.5, except for item 9 ( λ = 0.38).

Model for the MLQ obtained
in this study.
Figure 1
Model for the MLQ obtained in this study.

Note. MLQ-P = Presence of Meaning; MLQ-S = Search for Meaning



Correlationship between the MLQ-P and the MLQ-S

The MLQ-P and MLQ-S subcales correlated positively, r = 0.42, p < 0.001 (moderate effect size according to Cohen, 1988).

Construct validity of the MLQ subscales

The MLQ-P showed a strong, positive correlationship with the PIL-10 and a strong, negative correlationship with the DES-II. The MLQ-S showed a moderate, positive correlationship with the PIL-10 and a weak, negative correlationship with the DES-II (Table 4).

Table 4
Correlationships between the MLQ and the PIL-A and DES-II

Correlationships between the
MLQ and the PIL-A and DES-II

Note. MLQ-P = Presence of Meaning; MLQ-S = Search for Meaning; PIL-10 = Purpose in Life-10 Items; DES-II = Dissociative Experiences Scale II. In parenthesis, the effect sizes according to Cohen (1988): S = Strong; M = Moderate; W = Weak. *** p < 0.001


Discussion

The aim of this study was to analyze the internal consistency, both structural and construc validity of the MLQ in a sample of Spanish people diagnosed with BDP. It was hypothesized that the MLQ would show both structural and construct validity as well as an acceptable internal consistency, and that the MLQ-P and MLQ-S subscales would be negatively correlated.

Internal consistency of the MLQ subscales

Both the MLQ-P and MLQ-S subscales demonstrated good internal consistency, consistent with previous research. Item 9 ("My life has no clear purpose") may need revision due to its negative phrasing, which could cause confusion. Following Steger et al. (2006), the item was retained, but it is recommended to rephrase it positively and assess its impact on the psychometric properties of the MLQ-P subscale.

Structural validity of the MLQ

The two-factor 10-item model for the MLQ proposed by Steger et al. (2006) showed excellent fit indices in this study, with both CFI and TLI indexes > 0.95 and both RMSEA and SRMR indexes < 0.05.

However, it must be noted that item 9 (My life has no clear purpose) showed a low factor loading on the MLQ-P scale, λ < 0.40. Previous studies (e.g., Chukwuorji et al., 2018; Hallford et al., 2018; Schutte et al., 2016) suggested that this item should be removed from the MLQ. As noted above, it would be interesting to word item 9 in a positive sense and analyze the effect on the psychometric properties of the MLQ-P subscale.

Correlation between Presence of/Search for Meaning

A positive and significant correlation was found between the MLQ-P and MLQ-S subscales. However, the mean scores of the BPD patients were below 24 on both subscales. According to Steger (2010), scores below 24 suggest that individuals likely do not perceive their life as meaningful or purposeful, are not actively seeking meaning, and may not find contemplating their life’s meaning important.

Participants in this study exhibited low presence of meaning and low motivation to search for meaning in their lives. According to Steger (2010), this suggests they likely do not feel their life has purpose, are not actively seeking meaning, and may not find contemplating life’s meaning important. They may experience dissatisfaction, lack optimism, infrequent positive emotions, and feelings of anxiety, sadness, or depression. Additionally, they may seek stimulating experiences, be disorganized or tense, and not engage socially or warmly with others.

These are characteristics of people diagnosed with BPD. Therefore, it is not uncommon for individuals diagnosed with BPD to score low on both the MLQ-P and MLQ-S subscales due to their psychopathology (APA, 2013).

Construct validity of the MLQ

Both the MLQ-P and MLQ-S subcales showed a positive correlationship with the PIL-10 and a negative correlationship with the DES-II. That is, both of the MLQ subcales correlated positively with a measure of MiL and negatively with a psychopathological measure, which is consistent with the positive correlation between presence of meaning and search for meaning found in this study.

The nuance is that the correlationships with both the MiL measure and the dissociation measures were stronger for presence of meaning (MLQ-P) than for search for meaning (MLQ-S), which would be expected considering what each MLQ subcale specifically measures (Steger et al., 2006, 2008).

Clinical implications

As many researchers have proposed (e.g., George & Park, 2016), an essential dimension of MiL is having a goal, purpose, or mission in life. People diagnosed with BPD have difficulty finding purpose in life (Marco, Pérez, et al., 2017), which in turn leads to a worsening of their symptoms and an intense experience of discomfort and hopelessness.

BPD is characterized by unstable emotions, self-image, relationships, impulsive behavior, and a fear of abandonment. Individuals with BPD often struggle with a fluctuating self-concept, shifting goals, values, and desires, making it hard to develop a clear sense of purpose. Their fear of rejection can hinder the formation of meaningful relationships. These factors contribute to a lack of direction, feelings of emptiness, and a sense of meaninglessness, making it difficult for individuals with BPD to establish a stable identity and find meaning in their lives.

BPD is associated with unique symptoms that can greatly affect one's sense of meaning, such as higher levels of existential distress, feelings of emptiness, and challenges in setting long-term goals. As a result, individuals with BPD may have different responses on instruments measuring MiL compared to those with other mental health disorders or the general population.

It is important to consider these differences and tailor intervention strategies accordingly when working with individuals with BPD. Therapeutic approaches that focus on helping individuals build identity coherence, develop stable goals and values, and enhance emotional regulation skills may be particularly beneficial in addressing the challenges related to finding MiL for those with BPD.

Furthermore, the sensitivity of MLQ to capture fluctuations in the experience of MiL in people diagnosed with BPD is a crucial aspect that requires attention in its clinical applicability. Because these patients exhibit emotional instability, difficulties in affective regulation, and fluctuations in their self-concept, their responses to MLQ may be more volatile and less predictable than in other populations. Fluctuations in their experience of MiL may reflect abrupt changes in their identity, goals, and values, raising questions about whether the MLQ is sensitive enough to capture these changes accurately.

Although the MLQ can provide an overview of the experience of MiL in patients diagnosed with BPD, it is advisable to complement it with additional tools that assess emotional stability and fluctuations in their experience of MiL over time. A multidimensional approach that combines MLQ with other specific assessments could improve the accuracy of pattern identification in this population. This approach would allow for a more complete understanding of how emotional and self-concept fluctuations impact the experience of MiL in people diagnosed with BPD.

On the other hand, having an adaptation of the MLQ for the Spanish-speaking population allows us to evaluate MiL in it in a reliable and valid way. It should be noted that the way in which the purpose of existence is conceived can vary significantly between cultures. Cultural and social characteristics play a central role in interpreting MiL, which can influence how people respond to the questionnaire. An adequate adaptation that ensures that the questions are understood correctly allows the MLQ to adequately capture the cultural and social dimensions relevant to the Spanish-speaking population. This also allows the questionnaire to be a more effective tool in the clinical context and in research, facilitating therapeutic intervention and the assessment of well-being in this cultural group.

Experiencing MiL can be a strong activator of motivation to cope with the symptomatology of mental disorders (e.g., Conner et al., 2022; Gross et al., 2019; Kelso et al., 2020; Marco et al., 2016, 2020; Marco & Alonso, 2019; Pérez et al., 2017; Sun, Wu, et al., 2022), and it can improve the results of psychotherapeutic interventions for people diagnosed with mental disorders (e.g., Fulford et al., 2020; Schulenberg et al., 2008; Sun, Chiu, et al., 2022). In BPD patients, MiL has been found to moderate and buffer the association between suicide risk factors and hopelessness (Marco, Guillén, et al., 2017). Therefore, introducing MiL in therapy can help individuals with BPD alleviate existential suffering by providing a sense of purpose and a motivation for personal growth and recovery. Despite the challenges of BPD, individuals can still find meaning in life, experience life satisfaction, set meaningful goals, and build positive, constructive relationships with others. This approach can be beneficial for fostering personal development and improving overall well-being:

MiL provides hope: People with BPD often experience feelings of emptiness and lack of purpose. Introducing the concept of MiL in therapy can help them develop a new perspective, fostering hope and motivating them to work towards a more fulfilling life.

MiL enhances motivation for recovery: Finding MiL can be a strong motivator for individuals with BPD to engage in therapy and make positive changes. With a clear sense of purpose and goals, they are more likely to actively participate in therapy and take responsibility for their recovery.

MiL encourages self-reflection and self-exploration: Introducing MiL encourages individuals with BPD to reflect on their core values, beliefs, and goals, fostering self-exploration. This process helps them gain insight into their emotions and behaviors, allowing them to examine the roots of their distress and align their actions with their sense of purpose.

MiL promotes emotional stability: BPD is characterized by intense and unstable emotions. Having a sense of meaning can stabilize emotions, reducing the severity of emotional dysregulation and improving the ability to cope with distressing feelings by fostering a purposeful life.

MiL offers a sense of identity: Individuals with BPD often experience identity instability. Through therapy, exploring their values, passions, and goals can help them develop a clearer sense of identity, leading to increased self-esteem, confidence, and a more stable sense of self.

MiL fosters resilience: Embracing a sense of MiL can strengthen resilience, helping individuals overcome challenges and persist in pursuing goals. For those with BPD, this resilience is especially beneficial, as it enables them to bounce back from difficult experiences and continue their recovery journey.

Briefly, introducing MiL in therapy for individuals diagnosed with BPD can have transformative effects by providing a sense of purpose, fosters motivation for recovery, enhances self-exploration and emotional stability, offers a clearer sense of identity, and promotes resilience in the face of adversity.

Regarding psychotherapy for people diagnosed with BPD, a useful strategy would be to combine Dialectical-Behavioral Therapy (DBT; Lungu & Linehan, 2017), which is currently the main treatment for BPD, with Meaning-Centered Counseling and Therapy [MCCT] (Wong, 2012). MiL could serve as a motivational key to integrate acceptance and change in DBT, aiding patients in coping with BPD symptoms. DBT focuses on skills for managing emotions, improving relationships, tolerating distress, and practicing mindfulness. In contrast, MCCT emphasizes pursuing meaningful, purposeful living to overcome challenges and enhance well-being, with finding meaning in life serving as a powerful motivator in facing adversity and grief.

Combining DBT and MCCT allows individuals to develop emotional regulation skills while also exploring their sense of purpose and meaning. This approach recognizes that emotional regulation alone isn't enough for healing and growth. By reflecting on what gives their life value, individuals can better understand their motivations, goals, and improve their ability to handle difficult emotions. Therapists using this combined approach can teach DBT skills, like distress tolerance and emotion regulation, while encouraging clients to explore their values, engage in meaningful activities, and find purpose in their lives.

Combining DBT and MCCT offers a holistic treatment approach that addresses both emotional regulation and the existential aspects of well-being. This combination helps individuals manage emotions while finding greater fulfillment and purpose. To date, this integration has not been implemented, presenting an intriguing challenge for researchers seeking to improve therapeutic methods for patients with BPD. An example of how to combine DBT with MCCT in the treatment of BPD patients could be the management of an existential crisis. When a BPD patient experiences strong emotional distress related to an existential void, DBT can be used to calm the immediate emotional response by teaching mindfulness techniques and discomfort tolerance. Subsequently, the MCCT can help explore the emotional void, guiding the patient to reflect on their core values and how these can offer a path to finding purpose. For example, the therapist may ask, “What does this void mean to you?” and “How can you align your decisions with what’s most important to you?”. This integration allows not only to manage emotional discomfort in the short term, but also to work on building a more coherent and meaningful sense of life.

Limitations of this study and suggestions for further research

A limitation of this study was the variation in participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, which could lead to biases, exclusion, oversimplification, and limited generalizability. Future studies should use larger, more balanced samples in terms of sociodemographic characteristics.

Another limitation of this study was the lack of test-retest reliability, which affects the quality, validity, and generalizability of the findings. This limits the ability to draw accurate conclusions and hampers study replicability. Future research should focus on analyzing the test-retest reliability and validity of the MLQ, considering factors such as the time interval between tests, practice effects, and the stability of the measured construct.

It would be beneficial to conduct studies with large, balanced subsamples of various mental disorders and to analyze the MLQ’s psychometric properties in other clinical populations, such as individuals with disabilities. This would help assess the scale’s invariance across different groups and explore differences in MiL. Additionally, future research could investigate whether MiL positively influences the negative emotional experiences of BPD patients, such as whether higher meaning in life correlates with lower distress.

Another limitation of the present study was the impossibility of performing a factorial invariance analysis according to the gender or age of the participants, since the samples size of both the sex and age subgroups was insufficient. This small subsamples size limited the ability to carry out robust and reliable analyses, which could affect the validity of the results in terms of statistical power. Consequently, it was not possible to perform a meaningful and generalizable analysis of invariance as a function of these variables. It would be interesting if future studies included sample sizes in the variables sex, age and other relevant variables that would allow invariance analyses to be carried out.

This study found a negative correlation between the MLQ subscales and the DES-II. It would be valuable to conduct further research to explore whether MiL positively influences the negative emotional experiences of BPD patients, such as reducing distress. Additionally, using measures specific to BPD psychopathological characteristics, like identity disturbance, impulsivity, anxiety, dissociative symptoms, and stress-related paranoia, would provide more insights.

It would be interesting to explore whether rewording item 9 in a positive manner would lead to significant changes in the psychometric properties of the MLQ-P. Based on the results of this study and previous research, it is hypothesized that both the internal consistency and structural validity of the MLQ-P scale would improve.

Acknowledgments

The authors report that there are no competing interests to declare. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Health Department of the Hospital of La Ribera (Alzira, Spain). The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study. The ethical standards for research involving human subjects were met. The participants in this study completed the informed consent and gave it to the authors. The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. The study was not funded.

References

American Psychological Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5 (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

Aquino, T. A. A., Veloso, V. G., Aguilar, A. A., Serafim, T. D. B., Pontes, A. M., Pereira, G. A., & Fernandes, A. S. (2015). Questionário de Sentido de Vida: Evidências de sua Validade Fatorial e Consistência Interna [Meaning in Life Questionnaire: Factorial validity and internal consistency]. Psicologia: Ciência e Profissão, 35(1), 4-19. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-3703001332012

Balgiu, B. A. (2020). Meaning in Life Questionnaire: Factor Structure and Gender Invariance in a Romanian Undergraduates Sample. Revista Romaneasca Pentru Educatie Multidimensionala, 12(2), 132-147. https://doi.org/10.18662/rrem/12.2/270

Brandstätter, M., Baumann, U., Borasio, G. D., & Fegg, M. J. (2012). Systematic review of meaning in life assessment instruments. Psycho-Oncology, 21(10), 1034-1052. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.2113

Chan, W. C. H. (2014). Factor structure of the Chinese version of the meaning in life questionnaire among Hong Kong Chinese caregivers. Health and Social Work, 39(3), 135-143. https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hlu025

Chen, W., & Gao, R. (2021). A Generalizability Analysis of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire for Chinese Adolescents. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 687589. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.687589

Chukwuorji, J. C., Ekpedoho, E. A., Ifeagwazi, C. M., Iorfa, S. K., Nwonyi, S. K. (2018). Psychometric properties of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire-Hausa version among internally displaced persons in Nigeria. Transcultural Psychiatry, 56(1), 103-122. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363461518794218

Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences (2nd ed.). Erlbaum.

Conner, B. T., Kentopp, S. D., O’Donnell, M. B., Wallace, G. T., Morse, J. L., Arkfeld, P. A., Steger, M. F., & Rebecca, R. (2022). Meaning in Life Moderates Relations between Personality and Temperament and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Hospitalized Adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 51(8), 1622-1635. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-022-01615-3

Cronbach, L. J. (1951). Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika, 16(3), 297-334.

Crumbaugh, J. C., & Maholick, L. T. (1969). Manual of instructions for the Purpose in Life Test. Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy.

Datu, J. A. D., & Yuen, M. (2021). Factorial validity of Meaning in Life Questionnaire in Hong Kong secondary school students: A construct validation approach. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 35(2), 467-480. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2021.1875989

Damásio, B. F., & Koller, S. H. (2015). Meaning in Life Questionnaire: Adaptation process and psychometric properties of the Brazilian version. Revista Latinoamericana de Psicología, 47(3), 185-195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rlp.2015.06.004

Damásio, B. F., Hauck-Filho, N., & Koller, S. (2016). Measuring Meaning in Life: An Empirical Comparison of Two Well-Known Measures. Journal of Happiness Studies, 17, 431-445. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10902-014-9602-8

Egerstrom, K. (2015). Practical Identity and Meaninglessness [Doctoral Dissertation, Siracuse University]. SURFACE. https://surface.syr.edu/etd/302

Faul, F., Erdfelder, E., Buchner, A., & Lang, A.-G. (2009). Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1: Tests for correlation and regression analyses. Behavior Research Methods, 41(4), 1149-1160. https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.41.4.1149

First, M. B., Williams, J. B. W., Karg, R. S., & Spitzer, R. L. (2016). Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5. Disorders SCID-5-CV. Clinician Version User’s Guide. American Psychiatric Association.

Frankl, V. E. (2010). The Feeling of Meaninglessness: A Challenge to Psychotherapy and Philosophy. Marquette University Press: Wisconsin.

García‐Alandete, J., Rosa, E., & Sellés, P. (2013). Estructura factorial y consistencia interna de una version española del Purpose‐In‐Life Test [Factorial structure and internal consistency of a Spanish version of the Purpose‐In‐Life Test]. Universitas Psychologica, 12(2), 517-530. https://doi.org/10.11144/Javeriana.upsy12-2.efci

George, L. S., & Park, C. L. (2016). Meaning in Life as comprehension, purpose, and mattering: TowardIntegration and new research questions. Review of General Psychology, 20(3), 205-220. https://doi.org/10.1037/gpr0000077

Góngora, V., & Grinhauz, A. S. (2011). Validación del Cuestionario MLQ de sentido en la vida en población adolescente de la ciudad de Buenos Aires. III Congreso Internacional de Investigación y Práctica Profesional en Psicología XVIII Jornadas de Investigación Séptimo Encuentro de Investigadores en Psicología del MERCOSUR. Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. https://www.aacademica.org/000-052/947

Gross, G. M., Laws, H., Park, C. L., Hoff, R., & Hoffmireef, C. A. (2019). Meaning in life following deployment sexual trauma: Prediction of posttraumatic stress symptoms, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation. Psychiatry Research, 278, 78-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2019.05.037

Haeyen, S., Heres, H., & Pol, S. (2024). Making meaning of one’s own life story in words and images: A narrative case report of personal recovery from personality disorder through the interventions "An Empowering Story" and art therapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 80(8), 1736-1753. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23690

Hallford, D. J., Mellor, D., Cummins, R. A., & McCabe, M. P. (2018). Meaning in Life in Earlier and Later Older-Adulthood: Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Correlates of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 37(10), 1270-1294. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464816658750

Heintzelman, S. J., & King, L. A. (2014). (The feeling of) meaning-asinformation. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 18(2), 153-167. http://doi.org/10.1177/1088868313518487

Icarán, E. M., Colom, R., & Orengo, F. (1996). Experiencias disociativas: Una escala de medida [Dissociative experiences: An assessment scale]. Anuario de Psicología, 70, 69-84.

International Test Commission. (2010). International Test Commission Guidelines for Translating and Adapting Tests (2nd edition). https://www.intestcom.org/files/guideline_test_adaptation_2ed.pdf

JASP Team. (2021). JASP (Version 0.16) [Computer Software]. https://jasp-stats.org/

Jun, W. H., & Yun, S. H. (2020). Mental health recovery among hospitalized patients with mental disorder: Associations with anger expression mode and meaning in life. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 34, 134-140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2020.03.001

Kelso, K. C., Kashdan, T. B., Imamoglu, A., & Ashraf, A. (2020). Meaning in life buffers the impact of experiential avoidance on anxiety. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 16, 192-198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2020.04.009

Kline, R. B. (2016). Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling (4th ed.). Guilford.

López-Pina, J.-A., & Veas, A. (2024). Validation of Psychometric Instruments with Classical Test Theory in Social and Health Sciences: A practical guide. Anales de Psicología/Annals of Psychology, 40(1), 163-170. https://doi.org/10.6018/analesps.583991

Lungu, A., & Linehan, M. M. (2017). Dialectical behavior therapy: Overview, characteristics, and future directions. In S. G. Hofmann & G. J. G. Asmundsonr, (Eds.), The Science of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (pp. 429-459). Academic Press.

Marco, J. H., & Alonso, S. (2019). Meaning in life buffers the association between clinical anxiety and global maladjustment in participants with common mental disorders on sick leave. Psychiatry Research, 271, 548-553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2018.12.027

Marco, J. H., Cañabate, M., Llorca, G., & Pérez, S. (2020). Meaning in life moderates hopelessness, suicide ideation, and borderline psychopathology in participants with eating disorders: A longitudinal study. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 27(2), 146-158. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2414

Marco, J. H., Guillén, V., & Botella, C. (2017). The buffer role of meaning in life in hopelessness in women with borderline personality disorders. Psychiatry Research, 247, 120-124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2016.11.011

Marco, J. H., Pérez, S., & García-Alandete, J. (2016). Meaning in Life Buffers the Association Between Risk Factors for Suicideand Hopelessness in Participants With Mental Disorders. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 72(7), 689-700. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22285

Marco, J. H., Pérez, S., García-Alandete, J., & Moliner, R. (2017). Meaning in Life in People with Borderline Personality Disorder. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 24(1), 162-170. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.1991

Marco, J. H., Privado, J., Guillen, V., Quero, S., Pérez, S., Baños, R., & Tormo, P. (2022). Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Version of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire in adult Spanish participants. Psicología Conductual/Behavioral Psychology, 30(3), 809-826. https://doi.org/10.51668/bp.8322313s

Martela, F., & Steger, M. F. (2016). The three meanings of meaning in life: Distinguishing coherence, purpose, and significance. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 11(5), 531-545. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2015.1137623

McAdams, D. P., & McLean, K. C. (2013). Narrative identity. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 22(3), 233-238. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721413475622

McDonald, R. P. (1999). Test theory: A unified treatment. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Mindrila, D. (2010). Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Diagonally Weighted Least Squares (DWLS) Estimation Procedures: A Comparison of Estimation Bias with Ordinal and Multivariate Non-Normal Data. International Journal of Digital Society, 1(1), 60-66. https://doi.org/10.20533/ijds.2040.2570.2010.0010

Naghiyaee, M., Bahmani, B., & Asgari, A. (2020). The Psychometric Properties of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) in Patients with Life-Threatening Illnesses. The Scientific World Journal, 2020(1), 8361602. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8361602

Negri, L., Bassi, M., & Fave, A. D. (2019). Italian Validation of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire: Factor Structure, Reliability, Convergent, and Discriminant Validity. Psychological Reports, 123(2), 578-600. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033294118821302

Pérez, S., Marco, J. H., & García-Alandete, J. (2017). The rol of hopelessness and meaning in life in a clinical sample with non-suicidal self-injury and suicide attempts. Psicothema, 29(3), 323-328. https://doi.org/10.7334/psicothema2016.284

Pituch, K. A., & Stevens, J. P. (2015). Multivariate Statistics for the Social Sciences: Analyses with SAS and IBM‘s SPSS (6th Ed.). Routledge

Rose, L. M., Zask, A., & Burton, L. J. (2017). Psychometric properties of the meaning in life questionnaire (MLQ) in a sample of Australian adolescents. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 22(1), 68-77. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2015.1124791

Schulenberg, S. E., Hutzell, R., Nassif, C., & Rogina, J. (2008). Logotherapy for clinical practice. Psychotherapy, 45(4), 447-463. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014331

Schulenberg, S. E., Strack, K. M., & Buchanan, E. M. (2011). The meaning in life questionnaire: psychometric properties with individuals with serious mental illness in an inpatient setting. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 67(12), 1210-1219. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20841

Schutte, L., Wissing, M. P., Ellis, S. M., Jose, P. E., & Vella-Brodrick, D. A. (2016). Rasch analysis of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire among adults from South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 14(12), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-016-0414-x

Singh, K., Junnarkar, M., Jaswal, S., & Kaur, J. (2016). Validation of Meaning in Life Questionnaire in Hindi (MLQ-H). Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 19(5), 448-458. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2016.1189759

Steger, M. F. (2010). The Meaning in Life Questionnaire. http://www.michaelfsteger.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/MLQ-description-scoring-and-feedback-packet.pdf

Steger, M. F. (2017). Meaning in Life and Wellbeing. In M. Slade, L. Oades & A. Jarden (Eds.), Wellbeing, Recovery and Mental Health (pp. 75-85). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316339275.008

Steger, M. F. (2022). Meaning in life is a fundamental protective factor in the context of psychopathology. World Psychiatry: Official Journal of the World Psychiatric Association, 21(3), 389-390. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20916

Steger, M. F., Frazier, P., Oishi, S., & Kaler, M. (2006). The Meaning in Life Questionnaire: assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(1), 80-93. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.53.1.80

Steger, M. F., Kashdan, T. B., Sullivan, B. A., & Lorentz, D. (2008). Understanding the search for meaning in life: personality, cognitive style, and the dynamic between seeking and experiencing meaning. Journal of personality, 76(2), 199–228. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2007.00484.x

Steger, M. F., & Shin, J. Y. (2010). The relevance of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire to therapeutic practice: A look at the initial evidence. International Forum for Logotherapy, 33(2), 95-104.

Sun, F.-K., Chiu, N.-M., Yao, Y., Wu, M.-K., Hung, C.-F., Chen, C.-C., Lee, Y.-H., & Chiang, C.-Y. (2022). The effects of logotherapy on meaning in life, depression, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation, in patients with depression: An intervention study. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 58(4), 1891-1899. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.13003

Sun, F.-K., Wu, M.-K., Yao, Y., Chiang, C.-Y., & Lu, C.-Y. (2022). Meaning in life as a mediator of the associations among depression, hopelessness and suicidal ideation: A path analysis. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 29, 57-66. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12739

Tavakol, M., & Dennick, R. (2011). Making sense of Cronbach’s alpha. International Journal of Medical Education, 2, 53-55. https://doi.org/10.5116/ijme.4dfb.8dfd

Temane, L., Khumalo, I. P., & Wissing, M. P. (2014). Validation of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire in a South African context. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 24(12), 5160. https://doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2014.904088

Travezaño-Cabrera, A., Vilca, L. W., Quiroz-Becerra, J., Huerta, S. L., Delgado-Vallejos, R., & Caycho-Rodríguez, T. (2022). Meaning of life questionnaire (MLQ) in Peruvian undergraduate students: Study of its psychometric properties from the perspective of classical test theory (CTT). BMC Psychology, 10, 206. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-022-00913-6

Vela, J. C., Ikonomopoulos, J., Lenz, A. S., Hinojosa, Y., & Saldana, A. K. (2017). Evaluation of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire and Dispositional Hope Scale With Latina/o Students. The Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 56(3), 166-245. https://doi.org/10.1002/johc.12051

Ventura‐León, J. L., & Caycho‐Rodríguez, T. (2017). El coeficiente Omega: un método alternativo para la estimación de la confiabilidad [The Omega coefficient: An alternative method for reliability estimation]. Revista Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Niñez y Juventud, 15(1), 625-627.

Wong, P. T. P. (2012). From logotherapy to meaning-centered counseling and therapy. In P. T. P., Wong (Ed.), The human quest for meaning: Theories, research, and applications (2nd ed., pp. 619-647). Routledge.

Notes

* Research article.

Authors contributions All the authors contributed to the study conception and design. Data collection and material preparation were performed by FL. JGA carried out the statistical analyses and performed the first draft of the manuscript, which was improved with FL, SP, JHM and VG contributions. All the authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript and accepted the final version for submision to the journal.

Author notes

a Correspondence author. Email: joaquin.garcia-alandete@uv.es

Additional information

How to cite: García-Alandete, J., Pérez, S., Lorca-Alamar, F., Guillén, V., & Marco, J. H. (2025). Psychometric Properties of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire in People Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Universitas Psychologica, 24, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.11144/Javeriana.upsy24.ppml

Contexto
Descargar
Todas