Description

The Mattering to Others Questionnaire (MTOQ) is an assessment instrument designed to measure an individual’s perceived sense of mattering to others. It focuses on how strongly individuals believe that they are valued, recognized, and considered important by the people in their lives.

The questionnaire examines different aspects of perceived mattering, including an individual’s sense of personal significance, recognition, and influence within interpersonal relationships. In this way, it provides information about how people perceive their importance and position within their broader social environment.

The concept of mattering is particularly relevant to the study of psychological well-being, self-esteem, social support, and interpersonal relationships, as an individual’s perception of being valued by others may be associated with several dimensions of psychological and social functioning.

Objective

The primary objective of the MTOQ is to assess the extent to which individuals perceive themselves as significant and important to other people in their lives.

More specifically, the questionnaire can be used to investigate:

• perceived importance and recognition by others,
• associations between mattering and psychological well-being,
• relationships between mattering and self-esteem,
• perceived social support and interpersonal relationships,
• mattering within family, friendship, social, and professional contexts.

The instrument can therefore contribute to a broader understanding of how perceived personal significance relates to an individual’s social relationships and psychological functioning.

Scoring

According to the available description of the instrument, participants respond to statements using a Likert-type scale or another specified rating format designed to assess their perceived sense of mattering.

Responses may be used to calculate overall scores or scores corresponding to different dimensions of mattering, depending on the structure of the specific version of the questionnaire being administered.

Higher scores may indicate a stronger perceived sense of mattering to others when this interpretation is consistent with the scoring procedure of the version used. Specific response coding, reverse-scored items, and subscale calculations should follow the appropriate scoring instructions for the instrument.

Statistical Analysis

Data obtained from the MTOQ can be examined using appropriate descriptive and psychometric statistical procedures.

Reliability analysis can be conducted to evaluate the internal consistency of the questionnaire, while factor analysis may be used to investigate the underlying dimensions of perceived mattering, such as recognition and influence.

Researchers may also examine correlations between mattering scores and other variables, including self-esteem, psychological well-being, social support, and interpersonal relationships.

Depending on the objectives of the study, comparisons may also be conducted between different demographic, social, or contextual groups.

Applications

The MTOQ can be applied in research examining psychological well-being, social relationships, self-esteem, and social support. It may also provide useful information about how individuals perceive their importance within family, friendship, and professional relationships.

The assessment of mattering can contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between an individual’s perceived social significance and broader aspects of emotional and social functioning.

References

Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the Adolescent Self-Image. Princeton University Press.

Hagerty, B. M. K., & Williams, R. (1999). The role of social support in the development of self-esteem and a sense of mattering. Social Science & Medicine, 48(7), 1053–1062.

Murphy, P. M., & Schuster, M. (2012). Mattering and psychological well-being: A review of research and implications for practice. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 31(6), 631–659.

Van Horn, M. L., & Herron, R. D. (2018). Assessing the impact of mattering on mental health and social functioning. Journal of Mental Health, 27(4), 335–343.

Niven, K., & Flett, G. L. (2009). The role of mattering in social relationships and emotional well-being. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 39(2), 490–514.