The Life Purpose Inventory (LPI) was first developed by Frankl in 1959. Later, Crumbaugh and Maholick (1964) used and refined this scale. It is a 7-point Likert-type scale consisting of 20 items. Jonsen, Fayertröm, Lundman, Nygren, Vahakanges, and Strandberg (2010) tested the theoretical assumptions of the PIL and described the structure of the Swedish version of the PIL. The researchers worked with a group of 449 participants, 62% of whom were women, ranging in age from 19 to 103. The results of exploratory factor analysis supported the three dimensions of the PIL as described by Frankl. These dimensions are: meaning in existence; freedom to create meaning in daily life; and willingness to seek meaning in the face of future hardships. The study also found that the Swedish version of the PIL is a valid and reliable instrument. The meaning of life has been identified as one of the fundamental assumptions of logotherapy. According to this school of thought, finding meaning in life is one of the most fundamental needs for every human being. This need is also closely related to the motivation we feel regarding our own existence. The PIL (Purpose in Life Test) test, which we will discuss in this article, is an assessment designed to help us discover this meaning.
In general:
Raw scores of 113 and above generally indicate a high sense of purpose
Scores of 92–112 indicate moderate purpose
Scores of 92 or below are interpreted as a lack of life purpose
In the responses to the items, selections of 1 and 2 are considered “low,” 3–5 are “moderate,” and 6 and 7 are “high.”
EPIL Subtest (Existential Scale of Purpose in Life Questionnaire): Items 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 12, and 16 make up the EPIL.
If items 6, 9, 11, and 16 are scored as 1 or 2, this indicates a critical situation that requires attention regarding suicide risk.
In a study conducted to develop a short form, it was found that items 3, 4, 8, and 20—which directly inquire about life purpose—are decisive in distinguishing between “feeling good” and “psychological distress.”
Reference: Crumbaugh, J., & Maholick, L. (1964). An experimental study of existentialism: The psychometric approach to Frankl’s concept of noogenic neurosis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 20, 200–207.