Personal Meaning Profile (PPM)

Abstract

The Personal Meaning Profile (PMP) is a comprehensive psychological scale designed by Paul T. P. Wong and colleagues to assess the diverse components that contribute to an individual’s subjective sense of meaning in life. Unlike unidimensional measures, the PMP adopts a multidimensional approach, operationalizing meaning through several key domains derived from implicit theories of a meaningful life. The instrument exists in a full 57-item version and a shorter 21-item version, both structured around seven primary factors that represent the sources and dimensions of meaning. These factors include both internal psychological states and external relational and achievement-oriented goals, providing a holistic assessment of existential fulfillment.

Keywords

Personal Meaning Profile, PMP, meaning in life, existential psychology, self-transcendence, self-acceptance, achievement, intimacy, perceived justice, religion, psychological assessment.

Authors

Paul T. P. Wong, G. T. Reker, E. Peacock, M. J. McDonald, D. T. Gingras

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Purpose

The primary purpose of the Personal Meaning Profile (PMP) is to provide a robust and multi-faceted measure of the components of meaning in life. It moves beyond simple evaluations of whether life is meaningful, instead focusing on how life is perceived as meaningful across various domains. This detailed breakdown allows researchers and clinicians to identify specific areas of strength or deficit in an individual’s quest for purpose and significance.

The scale was developed to support Wong’s work on the Resource-Congruence Model of Coping and Meaning Therapy, offering a diagnostic tool to assess the psychological resources related to meaning, coping, and successful adjustment across the lifespan, particularly in response to stress and aging.

Construct

The PMP measures meaning in life as a multidimensional construct, defined by seven core dimensions that reflect implicit theories of what constitutes a meaningful existence. This approach recognizes that meaning is derived from multiple sources, ranging from personal accomplishment to spiritual faith and interpersonal connections. The PMP structure suggests that meaning is achieved through a dynamic balance of internal acceptance and external engagement.

The seven dimensions measured by the PMP are: Achievement, Relationship, Religion, Self-transcendence, Self-acceptance, Intimacy, and Fair treatment or perceived justice. These subscales capture both objective sources of meaning (like achievement and relationships) and subjective, existential resources (like self-acceptance and spiritual belief).

Validity

The PMP demonstrates strong evidence of construct validity, particularly through its systematic development based on factor analysis of individuals’ implicit theories regarding meaningful life (Wong, 1998). The multidimensional structure aligns well with theoretical models positing that meaning is an integrated construct derived from various life domains.

The scale has been shown to correlate positively with measures of psychological well-being, life satisfaction, and coping effectiveness, while correlating negatively with measures of depression, anxiety, and meaninglessness (existential vacuum), providing strong evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. Furthermore, the PMP’s ability to predict successful aging and resilience under stress further supports its predictive validity.

Reliability

The PMP exhibits high levels of internal consistency across its various dimensions. Studies using the original 57-item version typically report Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from acceptable to excellent for the overall scale and its primary subscales. The comprehensive nature of the scale, covering diverse aspects of meaning, ensures that it consistently measures the intended latent constructs.

The brief 21-item version, developed by McDonald, Wong, & Gingras (2012), also maintains strong reliability characteristics, making it suitable for contexts where time constraints are a factor, such as large-scale surveys or clinical screening. Test-retest reliability has also been established, indicating the stability of the meaning construct as measured by the PMP over time.

Factor Analysis

Extensive Factor Analysis (FA) was crucial in the development and refinement of the PMP. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses (EFA and CFA) consistently supported the seven-factor structure of the scale. This structure, which differentiates meaning derived from personal growth (Achievement), social bonds (Relationship, Intimacy), existential coping (Self-acceptance), and spiritual/altruistic pursuits (Religion, Self-transcendence), confirms the multidimensionality of the construct.

The original 57-item scale yields clean factor loadings corresponding to the seven dimensions listed. The subsequent development of the 21-item brief version utilized FA to select the items with the highest loadings and best discriminatory power across these same seven factors, ensuring the abbreviated version retained the essential structural integrity of the full scale.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report psychological inventory.

Format: The PMP is typically administered using a 7-point Likert Scale for the 57-item version (1=Not at all to 7=A great deal). A separate 8-item scale measuring Perceived Personal Meaning uses a 9-point Likert Scale (1=Strongly Disagree to 9=Strongly Agree).

Language Available: Primarily English, though it has been translated and used in various cross-cultural studies.

Population Group: General population, clinical populations, and specific groups such as older adults and students.

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

Population Details: Originally validated on North American samples, but subsequent research has demonstrated its utility across various demographic and cultural groups.

Test Methodology: Paper-and-pencil or online administration. Scoring involves summing item responses within each of the seven subscales and calculating a total meaning score. The brief version maintains the same seven subscales with three items each.

Keywords

Meaning therapy, existential fulfillment, coping schemas, psychological well-being, life satisfaction, Paul T. P. Wong, resource-congruence model, psychological assessment.

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Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source content.

Correspondence Address: Correspondence is typically directed to Dr. Paul T. P. Wong, who holds the copyright for the scale.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Personal Meaning Profile (PMP) was initially developed in the late 1980s, with comprehensive academic documentation appearing in 1998 (Wong, 1998). The brief version was published in 2012 (McDonald, Wong, & Gingras, 2012). The scale is often utilized freely for non-commercial academic research purposes, but users should consult Dr. Wong’s official website for current permission and usage guidelines.

The instrument and related materials can be downloaded as PDF files from the following locations:

• The original PDF can be downloaded here: http://www.drpaulwong.com/documents/HQM2-chapter17.pdf
• A related PDF can be downloaded here: http://www.drpaulwong.com/documents/wong-scales/personal-meaning-profile.pdf

Reference’s

The following key references document the development, validation, and application of the Personal Meaning Profile:

• Wong, P. T. P. (1989). Personal meaning and successful aging. Canadian Psychology, 30(3), 516–525.
• Wong, P. T. P. (1993). Effective management of life stress: The resource-congruence model. Stress Medicine, 9, 51–60.
• Wong, P. T. P. (1998). Implicit theories of meaningful life and the development of the Personal Meaning Profile (PMP). In P. T. P. Wong & P. S. Fry (Eds.), The human quest for meaning: A handbook of psychological research and clinical applications (pp. 111–140). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
• Wong, P. T. P., Reker, G. T., & Peacock, E. (2006). The resource-congruence model of coping and the development of the Coping Schemas Inventory. In P. T. P. Wong & L. C. J. Wong (Eds.), Handbook of multicultural perspectives on stress and coping (pp. 223–283). New York, NY: Springer.
• Wong, P. T. P. (2010). Meaning therapy: An integrative and positive existential psychotherapy. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 40(2), 85–93.
• McDonald, M. J., Wong, P. T. P., & Gingras, D. T. (2012). Meaning-in-life measures and development of a brief version of the Personal Meaning Profile. In P. T. P. Wong (Ed.), The human quest for meaning: Theories, research, and applications (2nd ed., pp. 357-382). New York, NY: Routledge.
• Wong, (1998). Personal Meaning Profile. In: Simmons C. A., Lehmann P. (eds). Tools for strengths-based assessment and evaluation, New York, NY: Springer, pp. 277-280. (2013). Google Scholar

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Items of the Personal Meaning Profile (PPM)

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

Personal Meaning Profile

1=Not at all to 7= A great deal

1. I have a good family life
2. I believe I can make a difference in the world
3. I am at peace with God
4. I have learned that setbacks and disappointments are an inevitable part of life
5. I believe in an ultimate purpose in life
6. I engage in creative work
7. I am successful in achieving my aspirations
8. I pursue worthwhile objectives
9. I strive to achieve my life goals
10. I care about other people
11. I have someone to share intimate feelings with
12. I believe in the value of my pursuits
13. I seek to actualize my potentials
14. I have found that there is rough justice in this world
15. I strive to make this world a better place
16. I am at peace with myself
17. I have confidants to give me emotional support
18. I relate well to others
19. I have a sense of mission or calling
20. I seek to do God’s will
21. I like challenge
22. I believe that human life is governed by moral laws
23. It is important to dedicate my life to a cause
24. I take initiative
25. I am able to make full use of my abilities
26. I strive to do my best in whatever I am doing
27. I have a number of good friends
28. I am trusted by others
29. I am committed to my work
30. I have a purpose and direction in life
31. I seek higher values—values that transcend self-interest
32. I am highly regarded by others
33. I seek to glorify God
34. I am enthusiastic about what I do
35. Life has treated me fairly
36. I accept my limitations
37. I have a mutually satisfying loving relationship
38. I am at peace with my past
39. I believe that there is coherence and continuity in my life
40. I do not give up when I encounter setbacks or obstacles
41. I am altruistic and helpful
42. I am liked by others
43. I have found someone I love deeply
44. I strive toward personal growth
45. I bring happiness to others
46. I accept what cannot be changed
47. I am persistent and resourceful in attaining my goals
48. I value my work
49. I make a significant contribution to society
50. I contribute to the well-being of others
51. I believe in afterlife
52. I believe that one can have a personal relationship with God
53. I attempt to leave behind a good and lasting legacy
54. I believe that there is order and purpose in the universe
55. I am treated fairly by others
56. I have received my fair share of opportunities and rewards
57. I have learned to live with suffering and make the best of it

Subscale Item Breakdown (57-item version):

• Achievement (16 items): 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 21, 24, 25, 26, 29, 34, 40, 44, 47, 48
• Relationship (9 items): 10, 18, 27, 28, 32, 41, 42, 45, 50
• Religion (9 items): 3, 5, 19, 20, 22, 33, 51, 52, 54
• Self-transcendence (8 items): 2, 15, 23, 30, 31, 39, 49, 53
• Self-acceptance (6 items): 4, 16, 36, 37, 46, 57
• Intimacy (5 items): 1, 11, 17, 38, 43
• Fair treatment or perceived justice (4 items): 14, 35, 55, 56 (Note: Item 14 may be dropped for a 3-item subscale)

Perceived Personal Meaning (Supplementary Scale)

1= Strongly Disagree to 9= Strongly Agree

1. My life as a whole has meaning
2. I am able to spend most of my time in meaningful activities and pursuits
3. I lead a meaningful life in the past
4. My entire existence is full of meaning.
5. At present, I find my life very meaningful.
6. I look forward to a meaningful life in the future
7. I derive a great deal of personal meaning form my past life.
8. I derive a great deal of personal meaning from my future expectations

Brief Version of the Personal Meaning Profile (21 items)

1. I believe I can make a difference in the world.
2. I have someone to share intimate feelings with.
3. I strive to make this world a better place.
4. I seek to do God’s will.
5. I like challenge.
6. I take initiative.
7. I have a number of good friends.
8. I am trusted by others.
9. I seek to glorify God.
10. Life has treated me fairly.
11. I accept my limitations.
12. I have a mutually satisfying loving relationship.
13. I am liked by others.
14. I have found someone I love deeply.
15. I accept what cannot be changed.
16. I am persistent and resourceful in attaining my goals.
17. I make a significant contribution to society.
18. I believe that one can have a personal relationship with God.
19. I am treated fairly by others.
20. I have received my fair share of opportunities and rewards.
21. I have learned to live with suffering and make the best of it.

Subscale Item Breakdown (21-item version):

• Achievement: 5, 6, 16
• Relationship: 7, 8, 13
• Religion: 4, 9, 18
• Self-transcendence: 1, 3, 17
• Self-acceptance: 11, 15, 21
• Intimacy: 2, 12, 14
• Fair treatment: 10, 19, 20