Validation Study of the Korean Version of the Meaning in Life Scale for Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to validate the Korean version of the Meaning in Life Scale (K-MiLS) among cancer survivors. Methods From August 2021 to November 2022, participants were recruited from multiple sites in South Korea. Participants completed related questionnaires, including the K-MiLS, on the web or mobile. Test-retest reliability was assessed between 2 and 4 weeks after the initial assessment. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and Pearson’s correlations were used to evaluate the reliability and validity of the K-MiLS. Known-group validity was examined using a t-test or ANOVA. To examine the sociodemographic and disease-related variables correlated with the K-MiLS, a multiple regression analysis was conducted. Regarding concurrent validity, a hierarchical regression analysis was performed. Results Three hundred and forty-five patients completed the questionnaires. The results indicated that the K-MiLS has a four-factor structure: Harmony and Peace; Life Perspective, Purpose and Goals; Confusion and Lessened Meaning; and Benefits of Spirituality. Regarding convergent and discriminant validity, K-MiLS was negatively correlated with Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI) while showing a significantly positive correlation with the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), and Functional Social Support Questionnaire (FSSQ). Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that the demographic variable influencing K-MiLS was religious affiliation. Conclusion The K-MiLS had a multidimensional four-factor structure similar to that of the original version. It is also a reliable and valid measure for assessing cancer survivors’ meaning in life after a cancer diagnosis.