Test History
The Ikigai-9 is a brief psychometric scale developed to assess the subjective sense of ikigai, a Japanese concept that can be roughly translated as "that which makes life worth living".
The scale was proposed by Tadanori Imai, Hisao Osada and Yoshitsugu Nishimura in 2012, in the context of public health research in Japan. The goal was to create a short, reliable and easy-to-apply instrument to measure the degree to which a person perceives meaning, purpose and satisfaction in their daily life.
Empirical studies have suggested that higher levels of ikigai are associated with various positive well-being indicators, including better mental health, greater life satisfaction and, in some population studies, lower risk of mortality.
About Methodology
Psychometric Scale:
The test uses a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree) to measure agreement with each statement.
Instrument Structure:
The scale consists of 9 items, which were originally organized into three psychological factors identified by factor analysis:
1. Recognition of the meaning of own existence
Perception that one's own life has value or importance.
2. Positive attitudes oriented towards the future
Motivation to learn, grow and develop.
3. Positive emotions in relation to life
Feeling of satisfaction and psychological richness in daily life.
These dimensions reflect different aspects of the feeling of ikigai, combining elements of existential meaning, personal motivation and subjective well-being.
Scoring:
The total score is obtained by adding the responses to all nine items:
• Minimum score: 9
• Maximum score: 45
Higher scores indicate greater subjective presence of ikigai.
The scale was conceived primarily as an instrument of psychological and epidemiological research, and its results should be interpreted as approximate indicators of the level of ikigai perceived at a given time in life.