Psychology15 papers
Measuring the unmeasurable: Psychometric tools for Existential Concerns
Key psychometric instruments for measuring existential concerns: meaning in life, existential isolation, and existential anxiety.
ES
Evgeny Smirnov
All Reviews
PsychologyWorth Reading
intermediate
Validating the Existential Quest Scale using item response theory
Rizzo, Marco et al. (2026)
- Published
- Jan 9, 2026
- DOI
- 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1716603
At a GlanceAI
Rasch analysis validates the Existential Quest Scale as a comparable measure across demographic and religious groups.
SummaryAI
The study strengthens measurement of existential quest: willingness to engage with existential questions in both religious and secular contexts. Using a large, heterogeneous sample, the authors find that the brief EQS measures one underlying construct and performs consistently across sex, age, and religious affiliation. The analysis also identifies potential improvements to items and response categories, supporting a more precise tool for research on identity, psychological flexibility, and social attitudes.
Method SnapshotAI
Rasch item-response modeling of the Existential Quest Scale in a large heterogeneous sample.
BackgroundAI
Basic familiarity with existential psychology, psychological measurement, and questionnaire scales.