Satisfaction With Life Scale: analysis of factorial invariance, mean structures and reliability

The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) is the most commonly used measure for life satisfaction. Although there are numerous studies confirming factorial validity, most studies on dimensionality are based on small samples. A controversial debate continues on the factorial invariance across different subgroups. The present study aimed to test psychometric properties, factorial structure, factorial invariance across age and gender, and to deliver population-based norms for the German general population from a large cross-sectional sample of 2519 subjects. Confirmatory factor analyses supported that the scale is one-factorial, even though indications of inhomogeneity of the scale have been detected. Both findings show invariance across the seven age groups and both genders. As indicators of the convergent validity, a positive correlation with social support and negative correlation with depressiveness was shown. Population-based norms are provided to support the application in the context of individual diagnostics.

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Analysis of factorial invariance across gender in the Taiwan version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale

Personality and Individual Differences ◽

10.1016/j.paid.2005.11.012 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 40 (6) ◽

pp. 1259-1268 ◽

Cited By ~ 82

Author(s):

Chia-huei Wu ◽

Grace Yao

Keyword(s):

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Factorial Invariance ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

Life Scale

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Spanish Version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale: Validation and Factorial Invariance Analysis in Chile

The Spanish Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1017/sjp.2018.2 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 21 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mehdi Bagherzadeh ◽

Nicolas Loewe ◽

Roy G. Mouawad ◽

Joan Manuel Batista-Foguet ◽

Luis Araya-Castillo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Scale Validation ◽

Total Sample ◽

Factorial Invariance ◽

Spanish Version ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

Average Value ◽

Life Scale ◽

Scalar Invariance

AbstractThe aim of this study is to: (1) examine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Satisfaction with Life scale (SWLS) on a representative sample of the Chilean population (N = 1,500); (2) test the factorial invariance of the SWLS across gender and employment status (henceforth status); and (3) provide normative data of the SWLS for Chile. Results suggest that the Spanish version of the SWLS is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring global life satisfaction in Chile and for comparison across gender and status. Confirmatory factor analysis shows support, across all groups, for a modified single-factor structure of the SWLS that allows error terms of items 1 and 2 to correlate (GFI > .98; RMSEA < .08). Cronbach’s alpha coefficient ranges between .68 and .84 for different groups, with an average value of .80 for the total sample. The SWLS scores converge with an alternative single-item measure of life satisfaction (r = .63, p < .001) and with measures of conceptually related constructs. The factorial structure of the scale is invariant with respect to gender and status (CFI > .99; RMSEA < .06). Metric invariance holds for gender (ΔCFI = 0; RMSEA = .051) and status (Δχ2 = 23.93, nonsignificant; ∆CFI = 0; RMSEA = .045). Scalar invariance holds for gender and some status combinations; partial scalar invariance holds for the rest. Mean levels of life satisfaction can be compared across gender and status, albeit cautiously for status combinations for which scalar invariance does not hold.

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Testing the factorial invariance of the Satisfaction with Life Scale across Chinese adolescents .

Social Behavior and Personality An International Journal ◽

10.2224/sbp.6222 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 45 (3) ◽

pp. 505-516 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Daoyang Wang ◽

Mingming Hu ◽

Qinfang Xu

Keyword(s):

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Factor Model ◽

Internal Consistency Reliability ◽

Factorial Invariance ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

Adolescent Students ◽

Rural And Urban ◽

Chinese Adolescent ◽

Life Scale ◽

High Internal Consistency

We tested the factorial invariance of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) across 2,178 rural, urban, and rural-to-urban Chinese adolescent students from middle schools and universities. We examined the psychometric properties of the SWLS and tested a 1-factor model with each of the rural, urban, and rural-to-urban groups. Multigroup analysis results revealed configural, weak, strong, and strict invariance of the SWLS across the groups, and also factorial invariance, factorial covariance, and latent mean invariance. The results showed that the SWLS had high internal consistency reliability and supported the single-factor structure. In addition, they showed that the gap in satisfaction with life between rural and urban populations in China may have diminished.

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Psychometric properties and factorial invariance of the satisfaction with life scale in Latino immigrants in Chile, Spain, and United States

Terapia psicológica ◽

10.4067/s0718-48082021000200199 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 39 (2) ◽

pp. 199-218

Author(s):

José Berrios-Riquelme ◽

Marcos Pascual-Soler ◽

Dolores Frias-Navarro ◽

Jorge Maluenda-Albornoz

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Psychometric Properties ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Latino Immigrants ◽

Factorial Invariance ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

Life Scale

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Measurement Invariance of the Serbian Version of the Satisfaction With Life Scale Across Age, Gender, and Time

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000410 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 555-563 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Veljko Jovanović

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

Factor Analysis ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analysis ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Life Scale ◽

Serbian Version ◽

Age Range ◽

Over Time

Abstract. The present research aimed at examining measurement invariance of the Serbian version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) across age, gender, and time. A total sample in Study 1 consisted of 2,595 participants from Serbia, with a mean age of 23.79 years (age range: 14–55 years). The final sample in Study 2 included 333 Serbian undergraduate students ( Mage = 20.81; age range: 20–27 years), who completed the SWLS over periods of 6 and 18 months after the initial assessment. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the modified unidimensional model of the SWLS, with correlated residuals of items 4 and 5 tapping past satisfaction. The results of the multigroup confirmatory factor analysis supported the full scalar invariance across gender and over time and partial scalar invariance across age. Latent mean comparisons revealed that women reported higher life satisfaction than men. Additionally, adolescents reported higher life satisfaction than students and adults, with adults showing the lowest life satisfaction. Our findings indicate that the SWLS allows meaningful comparisons in life satisfaction across age, gender, and over time.

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