Factor structure and invariance of personal meaning measures in cohorts of younger and older adults

The purpose of the present study was to examine the factor structure and factorial invariance of measures of personal meaning (i.e. the existential belief that life has purpose and coherence) in cohorts of younger and older adults. Samples of 163 young adults and 144 older adults completed six measures of personal meaning in life. Confirmatory factor analysis and multiple-groups confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess structure and structural invariance. The results show that a general second-order model of personal meaning best characterizes the factor structure of personal meaning of both younger and older adults. Factorial invariance across younger and older adults was demonstrated at the first-order factor level, but not at the second-order level. A test of age differences between the means of the six latent personal meaning factors revealed no significant differences, although there was a tendency for older adults to experience greater meaning in life. Implications for the use of personal meaning measures in cross-sectional and longitudinal research are discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.