Development and Pilot Evaluation of the Nexora Model of Living Scale (NMLS): A Preliminary Assessment of a Multidimensional Well-Being Instrument

Technical Summary: Development and Pilot Evaluation of the Nexora Model of Living Scale (NMLS)

Problem Statement
While contemporary research increasingly conceptualizes well-being as a multidimensional, dynamic construct encompassing emotional, psychological, social, and functional domains, existing measurement tools often remain narrowly focused. Instruments such as the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Mental Health Continuum, and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale tend to emphasize specific aspects of well-being (e.g., life satisfaction or mental health symptoms) rather than capturing the integrated nature of everyday living. Furthermore, reviews suggest many tools overlook the interactions between different life domains. The Nexora Model of Living was developed to address this gap by organizing well-being across ten interconnected pillars within three distinct domains: Inner Life, Outer Life, and World Engagement. However, a validated instrument to operationalize this specific holistic framework was lacking.

Methodology
This study employed a cross-sectional pilot design to evaluate the initial performance of the Nexora Model of Living Scale (NMLS), Version 1.

• Participants: The study involved 147 participants, primarily students and young adults (ages 18–35) recruited via convenience sampling from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds, including India, Africa, and the Pacific. The sample was approximately 58% female and 40% male.
• Instrument: The initial NMLS consisted of 50 items, with five items representing each of the ten pillars (Emotional Regulation, Inner Awareness and Peace, Spirituality, Purpose and Meaning, Growth and Learning, Physical Well-Being, Relationships and Belonging, Ethics and Moral Living, Financial Responsibility, and Social and Environmental Responsibility).
• Procedure: Data were collected via an anonymous online questionnaire over four weeks (October–November 2024). Participants responded using a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).
• Analysis: Data analysis focused on descriptive statistics, item-level performance (means, standard deviations, item-total correlations), and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha). The analysis was conducted using SPSS version 27.0. The study did not employ external validation criteria or advanced factor analysis at this stage, as the primary goal was refinement rather than definitive psychometric establishment.

Key Results

• Response Patterns: Responses were generally skewed toward agreement. The overall mean score was 3.64 (SD = 1.05) on a 5-point scale. The distribution showed a negative skew (-0.42), with 38.2% of responses being "agree" (4) and 24.7% being "strongly agree" (5).
• Item Performance: Most items (76%) had mean scores between 3.4 and 4.2. Items reflecting abstract values (e.g., "I value meaningful connections") showed higher means (up to 4.48) and potential ceiling effects, while items reflecting consistent behavioral effort (e.g., "I manage my finances responsibly") showed lower means (e.g., 2.89). Four items exhibited ceiling effects with over 20% of responses at the maximum value.
• Domain Trends: The "Inner Life" domain yielded the highest mean (3.68), followed by "World Engagement" (3.61) and "Outer Life" (3.59).
• Reliability: The full scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.93. Domain-level alphas ranged from 0.76 (World Engagement) to 0.89 (Inner Life).

Key Contributions and Revisions
The primary contribution of this paper is the development of a pilot-tested instrument and the identification of specific methodological refinements necessary for the NMLS. Based on the pilot findings, the authors implemented the following revisions for the subsequent version of the scale:

1. Item Reduction: The scale was reduced from 50 to 40 items (four items per pillar) to remove redundancy and improve variability.
2. Structural Consolidation: "Emotional Regulation" and "Inner Awareness and Peace" were merged into a single pillar titled "Mental and Emotional Health."
3. Response Format Change: The agreement-based format was replaced with a truth-based format ("How true is this statement of you?"). This shift aims to reduce acquiescence bias and encourage respondents to reflect on actual lived experiences rather than endorsing general statements.
4. Recall Period: A specific recall period ("the past month") was introduced to improve response consistency.
5. Item Specificity: Items were rewritten to be more behavioral and specific (e.g., changing "I try to do what I believe is right" to "When I make a mistake, I try to be truthful about it").

Significance and Limitations
The authors claim that the pilot findings provide initial support for the coherence of the Nexora Model of Living Scale, demonstrating that the constructs are familiar to respondents and that the domains capture distinct aspects of well-being. The study highlights the importance of moving beyond narrow well-being metrics to a more integrated framework that includes financial responsibility and environmental engagement.

However, the paper maintains a modest stance regarding its claims. The authors explicitly acknowledge that the findings are preliminary. Limitations include the use of convenience sampling (limiting generalizability), reliance on self-report data (susceptible to social desirability bias), and the lack of advanced psychometric testing (such as exploratory or confirmatory factor analysis). The authors conclude that the NMLS requires further validation with larger, more diverse samples and rigorous testing of its factor structure before it can be considered a fully validated measure. The study serves as a foundational step in an iterative development process rather than a final validation of the instrument.