"ME-Work: Development and Validation of a Modular Meaning in Work Inventory"

by Schnell, Tatjana; Hoffmann, Carmen (2020)

Abstract

As research on meaning in work progresses, access to theoretically integrated, differentiated survey instruments becomes crucial. In response to this demand, the present article introduces ME-Work, a modular inventory to measure meaning in work. Derived from research findings on meaning in life, the ME-Work inventory offers three modules that can be used separately or jointly. Module 1 assesses four facets of meaning in work, i.e., coherence, significance, purpose and belonging; module 2 measures the subjective assessment of work as meaningful or meaningless, and module 3 records the extent to which work is perceived as a source of meaning. We report on the development of the instrument and the results of an exploratory factor analysis in a pilot study of 115 working adults. A further study with 278 working adults provided evidence for construct and incremental validity. Relationships with meaning in life, mental health, job satisfaction, socio-moral climate, burnout and work as meaning were investigated. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the factor structure. Gender-specific analyses of the four facets of meaning's differential predictive power provided additional insights. Practical implications and further research needs are discussed.

Links to Reference

• http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.599913
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33424714
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7793865
• https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.599913
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7793865/

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