Valued Living Questionnaire Version 2

Abstract

The Valued Living Questionnaire Version 2 (VLQ-2) is a self-report psychological scale designed to assess the degree to which an individual’s daily actions align with their personally held life values. Developed within the framework of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), the VLQ-2 measures both the importance assigned to 12 distinct life domains and the behavioral consistency (action) demonstrated in those areas over the past week. This instrument provides clinicians and researchers with crucial data regarding valued action, psychological flexibility, and commitment to life goals.

Keywords

Valued Living, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, ACT, Psychological Flexibility, Values Work, Behavioral Assessment, Life Domains, Committed Action, Quality of Life.

Authors

Kelly G. Wilson, A. R. Murrell, Troy DuFrene, Emily K. Sandoz, Jennifer Kitchens, M. E. Roberts.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the VLQ-2 is to quantify the discrepancy between what an individual deems important (their values) and how they actually spend their time (their actions). In clinical settings, particularly those utilizing ACT, this measure helps identify areas of avoidance or inaction that impede a client’s movement toward a rich and meaningful life. By rating 12 core life domains across six dimensions (including importance and action), the scale facilitates targeted intervention planning and goal setting.

The scale also serves as a critical measure of treatment outcome, assessing changes in committed action following behavioral treatment. A key goal is to foster psychological flexibility, which is often operationalized as increased engagement in valued living despite the presence of internal distress or negative thoughts. The VLQ-2 provides quantifiable metrics for tracking this change.

Construct

The VLQ-2 specifically measures the construct of Valued Living and Valued Action, which are central components of the ACT model. Valued living is defined not as achieving specific outcomes, but as the ongoing, deliberate, and flexible pattern of behavior guided by chosen life directions. The scale operationalizes this construct across 12 distinct domains, recognizing that values are intrinsically multidimensional and context-dependent.

The instrument provides six specific metrics for each domain, including measures of possibility, subjective importance (current and overall), and behavioral measures (action and satisfaction with action), alongside concern about progress. This multi-faceted approach ensures a comprehensive assessment of the functional relationship between an individual’s articulated values and their actual behavior in their environment.

Validity

Initial validation studies, most notably the 2010 publication by Wilson and colleagues, demonstrated robust construct validity for the VLQ-2. The scale successfully differentiates between individuals who report higher levels of valued living and those who report greater psychological distress or lower quality of life. High scores on the Action subscale correlate negatively with measures of psychopathology, such as depression and anxiety, and positively with measures of well-being and life satisfaction, confirming convergent validity.

Furthermore, the VLQ-2 exhibits good discriminant validity, showing that it measures a unique construct (valued action) distinct from general life satisfaction, motivational levels, or goal attainment alone. The instrument is sensitive to change, indicating its utility as an outcome measure in clinical trials involving Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Reliability

The VLQ-2 demonstrates satisfactory internal consistency, particularly for the composite scores related to Action and Importance. Studies have reported acceptable Cronbach’s alpha coefficients across the various subscales, supporting the reliable measurement of valued action across the 12 domains. Test-retest reliability has also been established, suggesting the stability of value ratings and reported actions over short periods, provided no major life changes have occurred, solidifying its use as a consistent psychological scale.

Factor Analysis

While the VLQ-2 is traditionally scored using the 12 distinct value domains, factor analytic studies typically support a two-factor structure when examining the overall metrics: a primary Importance Factor (combining current and overall importance ratings) and a secondary Action Factor (combining action taken and satisfaction with action). These factors correspond directly to the core theoretical dimensions of values clarification and committed action inherent in the ACT model, confirming the instrument’s theoretical underpinning.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report Psychological Scale / Behavioral Assessment Tool

Format: The instrument uses 12 defined life domains, each rated across 6 specific metrics using a 10-point Likert scale (1=Not at all, 10=Very/Completely).

Language Available: Primarily English (translations are common in ACT research literature).

Population Group: Clinical and Non-Clinical Adults.

Age Group: Adolescents (typically 16+) and Adults (18+).

Population Details: Used widely in populations seeking psychological intervention, particularly those struggling with experiential avoidance, depression, anxiety, or lack of life direction. It is a fundamental tool for implementing values-based work.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate 12 life domains on six specific metrics (Possibility, Current Importance, Overall Importance, Action, Satisfaction with Action, Concern). Clinicians often calculate a discrepancy score (Importance minus Action) to identify areas of psychological inflexibility and target therapeutic focus.

Keywords

VLQ-2, Valued Action, Committed Action, ACT, Psychological Measurement, Life Values, Assessment, Contextual Behavioral Science.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Information not provided in source.

Affiliation Email addresses: Information not provided in source.

Correspondence Address: Correspondence generally directed to Kelly G. Wilson, Ph.D., or the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS).

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The VLQ-2 is typically considered a public domain instrument for non-commercial research and clinical use, consistent with many tools developed within the Contextual Behavioral Science community. The definitive psychometric paper defining the current version was published in 2010 (Wilson, Sandoz, Kitchens, & Roberts). While the instrument is generally free to use, appropriate citation is required.

Reference’s

Wilson‚ K. G. & Murrell‚ A. R. (2004). Values work in acceptance and commitment therapy: Setting a course for behavioral treatment. In S. C. Hayes‚ V. M. Follette‚ & M. M. Linehan (Eds.)‚ Mindfulness and acceptance: Expanding the cognitive behavioral tradition (pp. 120-151). New York‚ NY: Guilford Press.

Wilson‚ K.‚ & DuFrene‚ T. (2008). Mindfulness for two: An acceptance and commitment therapy approach to mindfulness in psychotherapy. Oakland‚ CA: New Harbinger.

Wilson‚ K. G.‚ Sandoz‚ E. K.‚ Kitchens‚ J.‚ & Roberts‚ M. E. (2010). The Valued Living Questionnaire: Defining and measuring valued action within a behavioral framework. The Psychological Record‚ 60‚ 249-272.

Wilson & DuFrene‚ (2008); Wilson‚ Sandoz‚ Kitchens‚ & Roberts‚ (2010). Valued Living Questionnaire. In: Simmons C. A.‚ Lehmann P. (eds). Tools for strengths-based assessment and evaluation‚ New York‚ NY: Springer‚ pp. 285-287. (2013).

The original PDF manuscript detailing the VLQ development can be downloaded here: https://contextualscience.org/files/VLQ%20manuscript%20Wilson%20Sandoz%20et%20al.pdf

Another related source is available here: http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1261&context=tpr

Items of the Valued Living Questionnaire Version 2

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

POSSIBILITY: How possible is it that something very meaningful could happen in this area of your life? Rate how possible you think it is on a scale of 1 to 10; 1 means that it is not at all possible at all, and 10 means that it is very possible.

CURRENT IMPORTANCE: How important is this area at this time in your life? Rate the importance on a scale of 1 to 10; 1 means the area is not at all important, and 10 means that the area is very important.

OVERALL IMPORTANCE: How important is this area in your life as a whole? Rate the importance on a scale of 1 to 10; 1 means that the area is not at all important, and 10 means that the area is very important.

ACTION: How much have you acted in the service of this area during the past week? Rate your level of action on a scale of 1 to 10; 1 means you have not been active at all with this value, and 10 means you have been very active with this value.

SATISFIED WITH LEVEL OF ACTION: How satisfied are you with your level of action in this area during the past week? Rate your satisfaction with your level of action on a scale of 1 to 10; 1 means you are not at all satisfied, and 10 means you are completely satisfied with your level of action in this area.

CONCERN: How concerned are you that this area will not progress as you want? Rate your level of concern on a scale of 1 to 10; 1 means that you are not at all concerned, and 10 means that you are very concerned.

The 12 Value Domains are:

1. Family (other than couples or parenting)
2. Marriage/couples/intimate relation
3. Parenting
4. Friends/social life
5. Work
6. Education/training
7. Recreation/fun
8. Spirituality
9. Community life
10. Physical self-care (diet/exercise/sleep)
11. The environment (caring for the planet)
12. Aesthetics (art, music, literature, beauty)

Additional Preference Questions:

• If you could choose 5 of these 12 areas to work one, which would they be?____________
• If you could choose just 3 of the 12, which would they be? _______________
• If you could choose just 1 of the 12, which would it be? ________________