2026 年 38 巻 2 号 p. 107-116
This study developed and validated the Existential Life Purpose Scale (ELPS), a brief four-item measure based on Viktor Frankl’s existential psychology. Participants were 332 Japanese adults, including 170 who completed a one-month retest. Analyses supported a single-factor structure and showed high internal consistency (α=.94) as well as acceptable temporal stability (r=.68). ELPS scores were strongly associated with the Presence subscale of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (r=.88) and with life satisfaction (r=.73), and were moderately negatively associated with psychological distress (r=-.38). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that the ELPS explained additional variance in life satisfaction and ikigai beyond the Meaning in Life Questionnaire and the Three-Dimensional Meaning in Life Scale. Unlike existing measures, the ELPS focuses on proactive and goal-directed engagement with existential purpose. Its concise format and solid psychometric performance make it suitable for large-scale surveys and applied research. Framing existential purpose as a form of motivational movement, the ELPS adds a complementary perspective to established concepts such as meaning presence and significance within positive psychology.
