The sources of meaning and meaning in life: Psychometric properties of the Czech version of the Fragebogen zu Lebensbedeutungen und Lebenssinn (LeBe)

Objectives. This study describes the translation and cultural adaptation of the Fragebogen zu Lebensbedeutungen und Lebenssinn (LeBe) into Czech, resulting in the Dotazník smyslu života a jeho zdrojů – ZdroSmy. This is the first multidimensional measure of meaning in life based on 26 sources of meaning, providing a deeper understanding of how individuals experience life’s purpose. A sense of meaningfulness is considered a key predictor of mental and physical health.Sample and setting. Data were collected from 997 participants (59% women) across the Czech Republic, ranging in age from 18 to 86 years (M = 37.21).Hypotheses. The authors expected the Czech adaptation to retain psychometric properties comparable to those of the original version, with some variations in the second-order factor structure.Statistical analyses. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega. Structural validity was evaluated through confirmatory factor analysis, while an alternative factor solution was explored using exploratory factor analysis.Results. The questionnaire demonstrated mostly satisfactory internal consistency, with reliability coefficients ranging from .63 to .90 for individual scales and from .81 to .94 for broader dimensions. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed deviations from the original factor structure and identified items that disrupted the unidimensionality of certain scales. These issues were partially addressed by removing items with local dependencies or low factor loadings and by reassigning some scales to different dimensions. An alternative shortened version of the questionnaire is proposed.Conclusion. The findings support the use of ZdroSmy in the Czech cultural context for assessing sources of meaning in life across five general dimensions and 26 specific scales; as well as for identifying crisis of meaning and meaningfulness. The inventory is suitable for research purposes, due to concerns regarding structural validity should be used with caution in clinical settings.Limitations. The study’s limitations include potential selection biases, despite efforts to ensure representativeness. The sample is skewed toward younger, well-educated female participants. Disparities between the Czech data and the original model suggest cultural and societal influences, highlighting the need for further refinement of the questionnaire.