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Better understanding and application of purpose in life is vital for every day life. Enrich in purpose in life will bring a wonderful meaningful moment and future.

Abstract thinking from concept of purpose in life is critical to grasp the heart of it. It is mostly unmeasurable.

While was in academic in doctorate study, the writing of purpose in life for conceptualization of clinical research found meaningful academic experience and hence beyond academic. Please find below articles of one of academic clinical research writing experience.

Purpose in Life

a. Conceptual definition for Purpose in life

A purpose in life is defined as a central self-organizing life aim that organizes and stimulates goals (self-determination), manages behaviors, and provides a sense of meaning. (1) It is a cognitive process that defines life goals and provides personal meaning. (1) Purpose in life directs life goals and daily decisions by guiding the use of finite personal resources. (1) Purpose is life is central to the person’s life and influences all actions, thoughts, and emotions ought to be considered as a broad scope of wider context of personality integration, identify development, individual’s wellbeing, and quality of life. (1,2,3) It is also defined as a motivating and vitalizing force in human life. (3) A sense of care goals, aims, and direction in life. (4)

b. Operational definition for Purpose in life

Operational definition of purpose in life is physical, mental, emotional and psychosocial wellbeing, leading to greater persistence than other important life goals because a central, self-organizing life aim resonate across time and context. (1) Purpose in life offers causal system that synthesizes physical and mental health, satisfaction, and life expectancy. (1) Purpose in life is woven into a person’s identity and behavior as a central, predominant theme: central to personality. (1) Purpose in life is contingent on the existence of a clearly defined mechanism that people devote effortful advances toward (appetitive). (1)

The acceptable measure of concept, although it is unmeasurable mostly, is as bellow:

1. Well-being includes four measures as indicators of psychological well-being, or potential negative symptomatology including positive affect and negative affect schedule (rating five-point scale); brief stress 4-item version of perceived stress (rating five-point scale); 20-item CESD depressive symptom inventory (rating four-point scale); the Offer Self Image Questionnaire (rating five-point scale). (7,8) (See details at an appendix)
2. Brief purpose measure by developing pool of items from a well-known measure of identify development and identity and purpose development during adolescence and emerging adulthood. (8,9). (See details at an appendix)
3. Purpose in life which is assessed by the Life Engagement Test which includes six-item measures by rating on a five-point scales. (10) (See details at an appendix).

The mode of administration of the measure of concept is completion of questionnaires and tests.

c. Evidence for the construct validity of the measure

I would like to mention one form of construct validity of the measure, it is predictive validity. (2)

Predictive validity measures correlation between measure and possible outcomes. Predictive validity is supported in the above example as brief purpose measure.

Brief purpose measure (4-items questionnaire) of purpose in life correlate with operational definition purpose in life and predict well-being measures. Brief purpose measure expressed within conceptual definition of purpose in life and investigates on operational definition of purpose in life.

The measure of concept: brief purpose in life measure, purpose in life, and well-being measures explained both conceptual and operational definition of purpose in life and measures the construct of purpose in life very well and predictive validity by showing brief purpose in life measure is related to the wellbeing measures. In addition, Purpose in life which is assessed by the Life Engagement Test correlated and predict well-being measures. Higher score reflects greater positive or negative affect, perceived stress, depressive symptoms, or a more positive self-image.

Reference

1. Scheier MF, Wrosch C, Baum A, Cohen S, Martire LM, Matthews KA, Schulz R, Zdaniuk B. The Life Engagement Test: assessing purpose in life. J Behav Med. 2006 Jun;29(3):291-8. Epub 2006 Mar 24. PubMed PMID: 16565785.
2. McKnight, P. E., & Kashdan, T. B. (2009). Purpose in life as a system that creates and sustains health and well-being: An integrative, testable theory. Review of General Psychology, 13(3), 242-251. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0017152.
3. Hill PL, Edmonds GW, Peterson M, Luyckx K, Andrews JA. Purpose in Life in Emerging Adulthood: Development and Validation of a New Brief Measure. The journal of positive psychology. 2016;11(3):237-245. doi:10.1080/17439760.2015.1048817.
4. Drageset J, Haugan G, Tranvåg O. Crucial aspects promoting meaning and purpose in life: perceptions of nursing home residents. BMC Geriatrics. 2017;17:254. doi:10.1186/s12877-017-0650-x.
5. Frank Martela & Michael F. Steger (2016) The three meanings of meaning in life: Distinguishing coherence, purpose, and significance, The Journal of Positive Psychology, 11:5, 531-545, DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2015.1137623.
6. Frankl, V. E. (1963). Man’s search for meaning: An introduction to logotherapy. New York, N.Y: Washington Square Press.
7. Login S. George & Crystal L. Park (2013) Are meaning and purpose distinct? An examination of correlates and predictors, The Journal of Positive Psychology, 8:5, 365-375, DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2013.805801.
8. Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS Scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 1063-1070.
9. Luyckx, K., Schwartz, S. J., Berzonsky, M. D., Soenens, B., Vansteenkiste, M., Smits, I., & Goossens, L. (2008). Capturing ruminative exploration: Extending the four-dimensional model of identity formation in late adolescence. Journal of Research in Personality, 42(1), 58-82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2007.04.004.
10. Bronk KC. The role of purpose in life in healthy identity formation: agrounded model. New Dir Youth Dev. 2011 Winter;2011(132):31-44, 7-8. doi: 10.1002/yd.426. PubMed PMID: 22275277.

Acceptable measure of Purpose in Life

Selected Measure 

1. Well-being

2. Brief purpose measure

-There is a difference in life

– Whether or not plans for future match with true interests and values

– Whether or not individual know which direction they are going to follow their life

– Whether or not life is guided by a set of clear commitments

3. Purpose in Life Measure (Life Engagement Test)

– Whether or not having enough purpose in life

– Whether or not the things individual do are all worthwhile

– Whether or not most of what Iindividual do seems trivial and unimportant

– Whether or not value activities a lot

– Whether or not individual do not care very much about the things they do.

– have lots of reasons for living

Epidemiological methodology is vital for both clinical and public health research. The findings of research explain important healthy aging factors in both clinical, public health, and individualized ways. The conceptualization of epidemiological methodology in challenging subjects in both clinical and public health research could shed lights by their findings explaining the spectrum of sense of emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being to apply in any of health conditions and general well-being.

One of the vital public health research is illuminating about purpose in life for well-being. The purpose in life and their meanings are expressed through academic.