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Values
SJO Test: Leontiev Life Meaning Orientation
The Purpose in Life Orientation test (SJO) by D.A. Leontiev measures your overall sense of meaning in life, the presence of goals, interest in daily experience, and your perceived ability to influence your own destiny. It evaluates time orientations (future, present, past) and beliefs about life controllability.
questions
20
Time
10 min
Method
leontiev
Rating
4.7
![Purpose in Life Test: Leontiev Life Orientation [SJO]](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Fcategories%2Fvalues%2Fvalues-01.webp&w=1920&q=75)
What you'll learn
Your overall level of life meaningfulness
Presence of goals and future orientation
How interesting and fulfilling you perceive your daily life
Satisfaction with your self-realization and achievements
Confidence in your ability to influence events
Degree of belief in your capacity to manage your life
Key facts
SJO (PIL)
Method
20
Questions
10 min
Time
6
Scales
α = 0.88–0.92
Reliability
2000+
Publications
History & development
1946
Viktor Frankl publishes Man's Search for Meaning, laying the foundations of logotherapy and the concept of existential vacuum
1964
J. Crumbaugh and L. Maholick create the Purpose in Life Test (PIL) to measure life meaningfulness based on Frankl's theory
1969
Publication of the expanded PIL version and first large-scale psychometric validation
1992
D.A. Leontiev adapts the test for Russian-speaking audiences, identifying 5 subscales and an overall score: the birth of SJO
2003
Leontiev publishes Psychology of Meaning, providing comprehensive theoretical framework for the methodology
2010
SJO becomes one of the most cited psychological tests in Russian-speaking academia (over 2,000 works)
About the methodology
The Purpose in Life Orientation Test (SJO) was developed by D.A. Leontiev in 1992 as an adaptation of the Purpose in Life Test (PIL), created by J. Crumbaugh and L. Maholick in 1964 based on Viktor Frankl's logotherapy framework. Frankl proposed that loss of life meaning (existential vacuum) is a key factor in neurotic disorders and psychological distress.
The original PIL contained 20 items designed to assess the experience of life meaningfulness. Leontiev significantly revised the methodology: he conducted factor analysis on Russian-speaking samples, identified 5 subscales, and added an overall meaningfulness score.
Psychometric properties: internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) of the total scale is 0.88-0.92, test-retest reliability: r = 0.82. Factor analysis confirmed the five-factor structure. The SJO has been used in over 2,000 scientific publications in existential, clinical, and positive psychology.
Scientific references
Leontiev, D.A. (1992)
Osin, E.N., Kosheleva, N.V. (2020)
Leontiev, D.A., Kalashnikov, M.O., Kalashnikova, O.E. (1993)
Leontiev, D.A. (2003)
Frequently asked questions
What does the SJO test measure?
The test measures your level of life meaningfulness across six indicators: overall meaningfulness, life goals, life process (interest and emotional richness), life results (satisfaction with self-realization), locus of control-Self (belief in personal strength), and locus of control-Life (belief in ability to manage your life).
Who developed this methodology?
The methodology was developed by D.A. Leontiev in 1992 as an adaptation of the Purpose in Life Test (PIL) by J. Crumbaugh and L. Maholick (1964). The theoretical foundation is Viktor Frankl's logotherapy concept.
How long does the test take?
The test contains 20 pairs of statements and takes about 10 minutes. It is recommended to answer intuitively without overthinking each question.
How reliable are the results?
Internal consistency of the total scale (Cronbach's alpha) is 0.88-0.92, test-retest reliability is r = 0.82. Factor analysis confirms the five-factor structure. The methodology has been validated on samples of over 3,000 people.
Where is this test applied?
SJO is used in existential counseling, career guidance, personal growth training, mid-life crisis studies, and scientific research. The methodology appears in more than 2,000 publications.
Can life meaningfulness be improved?
Yes. Research shows that life meaningfulness can be developed through setting meaningful goals, mindfulness practice, logotherapeutic techniques, and engaging in activities aligned with your personal values.
Instructions
You will be presented with pairs of opposing statements. Choose a number from 1 to 7 that reflects how much you agree with one of the statements. A score of 4 means equal agreement with both.
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