By Dr. Levi Brackman · Updated November 2, 2026
- Adults studied
- 89
- Ages in this trial
- 50–85
- Follow-up after finishing
- 3 months
The adult study, in plain words
The study assigned 46 adults to an online purpose discovery program and 43 to a group who waited. Participants worked independently, with written exercises and recorded instructional videos. They did not receive personal or group coaching; technical support was available.
They reflected on activities they loved, explored what they enjoyed and what motivated them, considered possible directions, and built a road map toward a purposeful goal. The program ran over three months.
Both groups answered questionnaires before the program, at its end and three months later. Four people in the program group did not complete it. The analysis kept them in their assigned group rather than counting only people who finished.
What changed?
Compared with the waiting group, people assigned to the program developed a stronger sense of purpose. The benefit on the main questionnaire was still present three months after the program ended.
There was also evidence of further improvement on a second purpose questionnaire and, on the main measure, among people who began with a lower sense of purpose. That does not mean every participant’s purpose continued to increase.
See the reported statistical results
The main questionnaire was the Meaning in Life Questionnaire’s presence scale (MLQ-P). Table 3.2 in the thesis reports these adjusted treatment coefficients. They are statistical estimates, not raw score changes or percentage improvements.
| Analysis | Coefficient | Standard error | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
| After the program, adjusting for starting scores | 0.74 | 0.14 | < .001 |
| Three-month follow-up, adjusting for starting scores | 0.81 | 0.18 | < .001 |
| Follow-up, also adjusting for end-of-program scores | 0.40 | 0.21 | Not significant at .05 |
The models also include an interaction with starting purpose. These coefficients should not be interpreted as everyone’s improvement. Comparing the first two coefficients does not establish further growth. A before-and-after chart would require the group averages at each assessment, which this table does not report.
What this means for you
The trial provides evidence that adults can develop purpose through a structured process they follow independently. PurposeLife is built on that method, with guided reflection and practical exploration leading toward a long-term purposeful goal.
Today’s app and AI coach were not part of the trial. The study supports the underlying method; it cannot promise your individual result.
How the research informs the AI coach
The approach draws on Levi’s studies and on responses from people who used earlier versions of the program. The coach follows specialist purpose discovery instructions and coaching materials developed by Levi, helping you explore your experiences in the context of each step.
This describes the coaching method and materials. It does not mean that today’s AI model was tested in the trial.
What to keep in mind
The trial was relatively small. The average age was about 63, and most participants were white. Results came from people’s own ratings. The comparison was with waiting, not with another purpose program.
The last assessment was three months after the program ended. The study does not establish lifelong effects, outcomes for younger adults, or any effect on dementia or life expectancy. PurposeLife is available to adults aged 18 and over; the study’s age range is not an eligibility rule.
Why purpose matters beyond this study
Other researchers have followed people over time and found associations between purpose and health. Boyle and colleagues (2010) linked greater purpose with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease in older adults. Hill and Turiano (2014) and Alimujiang and colleagues (2019) found associations between purpose and lower mortality.
These observational studies do not show that buying or using PurposeLife prevents illness or extends life. They provide context for why purpose is worth studying.
Who did the research?
Levi Brackman conducted the research for his PhD at Australian Catholic University’s Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, supervised by Professors Herbert Marsh and Philip Parker. His thesis was completed in 2017.
Levi Brackman led this research and founded PurposeLife. This summary is published by PurposeLife and has not been independently peer reviewed as a separate research paper.
Read about LeviRead the original research
Fostering Purpose in Life/Meaning in Life Across the Life Span, Levi Brackman (2017). Adult trial: Chapter 4, pages 198–229. Baseline characteristics and results: Tables 3.1 and 3.2, pages 217–218.
Read the full doctoral thesis in the university repository
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/download/acc7f704b4d4d9342b0e505f840f8b143d974cbf615a0b0a513c0cea897258a3/5506644/BRACKMAN_2017_THESIS.pdf
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