Measurement Invariance of the Satisfaction with Life Scale in Argentina, Mexico and Nicaragua

The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS; Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985) is one of the most widely used scales for the measurement of well-being. Nevertheless, its measurement invariance and factor structure have not been investigated simultaneously across culturally diverse samples in Latin America. The current paper evaluates the factorial structure and measurement invariance of SWLS (the degree to which the scale measurements conducted across different populations exhibit identical psychometric properties) as to provide solid and accurate basis for cultural group comparisons. We apply measurement invariance testing procedures using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) to investigate the factorial structure and invariance of the scale across three cultural groups from Argentina, Mexico and Nicaragua. We also estimate and compare latent means of life satisfaction across groups. Participants were 921 adults (mean age 29.66, SD = 11.48) from Argentina (n = 192), Mexico (n = 421) and Nicaragua (n = 302). First, confirmatory factor analyzes (CFA) conducted separately for each cultural group provided support for the one-factor structure of the instrument. Second, the MGCFA showed good configural, metric and scalar invariance models, indicating similar patterns and strengths in factor loadings, means and intercepts across cultural samples. Third, latent mean comparisons did not show group differences in life satisfaction. We conclude that the SWLS is a brief and valid measure of life satisfaction that can be used for cross-cultural comparison with samples from Argentina, Mexico and Nicaragua.

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Measurement Invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale Across 26 Countries

Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology ◽

10.1177/0022022117697844 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 560-576 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Seulki Jang ◽

Eun Sook Kim ◽

Chunhua Cao ◽

Tammy D. Allen ◽

Cary L. Cooper ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

Factor Analysis ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analysis ◽

Measurement Invariance ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

Invariance Testing ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Life Scale

The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) is a commonly used life satisfaction scale. Cross-cultural researchers use SWLS to compare mean scores of life satisfaction across countries. Despite the wide use of SWLS in cross-cultural studies, measurement invariance of SWLS has rarely been investigated, and previous studies showed inconsistent findings. Therefore, we examined the measurement invariance of SWLS with samples collected from 26 countries. To test measurement invariance, we utilized three measurement invariance techniques: (a) multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MG-CFA), (b) multilevel confirmatory factor analysis (ML-CFA), and (c) alignment optimization methods. The three methods demonstrated that configural and metric invariances of life satisfaction held across 26 countries, whereas scalar invariance did not. With partial invariance testing, we identified that the intercepts of Items 2, 4, and 5 were noninvariant. Based on two invariant intercepts, factor means of countries were compared. Chile showed the highest factor mean; Spain and Bulgaria showed the lowest. The findings enhance our understanding of life satisfaction across countries, and they provide researchers and practitioners with practical guidance on how to conduct measurement invariance testing across countries.

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Psychometric Properties and Factor Structure of the Satisfaction with Life Scale in a Military Students Sample

International conference KNOWLEDGE-BASED ORGANIZATION ◽

10.2478/kbo-2020-0094 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 300-304

Author(s):

Crenguţa Mihaela Macovei

Keyword(s):

Psychometric Properties ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

Military Students ◽

Fit Indices ◽

Factorial Structure ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Life Scale ◽

Military Student

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to present the results of a study that examined the factorial structure of Satisfaction with Life Scale – SWLS through confirmatory factor analysis and to analyze its psychometric properties in a 124 students sample from Land Forces Academy from Sibiu. The fit indices support the validity of the single factor structure of SWLS. The internal consistency of the SWLS was. 75. This scale can be considered a useful tool in measuring the level of life satisfaction in a military student environment.

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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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Measuring life satisfaction among psychiatric patients: Measurement invariance and validity of the Satisfaction with Life Scale

Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy ◽

10.1002/cpp.2434 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 378-383 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Veljko Jovanović ◽

Milica Lazić ◽

Vesna Gavrilov‐Jerković

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

Measurement Invariance ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Psychiatric Patients ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

Life Scale

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Satisfaction with Life Scale in a Representative Sample of Spanish Adults: Validation and Normative Data

The Spanish Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1017/sjp.2013.82 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 16 ◽

Cited By ~ 69

Author(s):

Carmelo Vázquez ◽

Almudena Duque ◽

Gonzalo Hervás

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

Representative Sample ◽

Normative Data ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

Subjective Happiness ◽

Gender Education ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

Life Scale ◽

Education And Employment

AbstractThe Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) is a measure widely used to assess life satisfaction. This paper aims to test its psychometric properties, factor structure, and distribution scores across age, gender, education, and employment status. For this purpose, a representative sample of the Spanish population (N = 2,964) was used. Although analyses showed no significant differences across age or gender, participants with higher education level and those who held an occupation were more satisfied with their lives. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a unifactorial structure with significant correlations between the SWLS, and subjective happiness and social support. The internal consistency of the scale was .88. Thus, our results indicate that the Spanish version of the SWLS is a valid and reliable measure of life satisfaction within the Spanish context.

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Satisfaction with Life Scale Among Italian Workers: Reliability, Factor Structure and Validity through a Big Sample Study

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12145860 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (14) ◽

pp. 5860 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Annamaria Di Fabio ◽

Alessio Gori

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Concurrent Validity ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

Psychometric Characteristics ◽

Work Context ◽

Reliability Factor ◽

Life Scale ◽

Valid Instrument

The study aims to assess the psychometric characteristics of the Satisfaction with Life Scale among 1074 participants from the working context. Analyzing Reliability, Factor Structure and concurrent validity, results indicated good values; besides results revealed a robust structure with one factor. On the basis of these results, the SWLS is a valid instrument in relation to evaluate some cognitive aspects of life satisfaction also in the Italian work context.

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Psychometric Properties of Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ-24) in the Lithuanian Population

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18052608 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 2608

Author(s):

Aiste Dirzyte ◽

Aidas Perminas ◽

Egle Biliuniene

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

Psychometric Properties ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Psychological Capital ◽

Assessment Tools ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

Factorial Structure ◽

Adequate Measure ◽

Life Scale

This study aimed to explore psychometric properties of satisfaction with life scale (SWLS) and psychological capital questionnaire (PCQ-24) in the Lithuanian representative sample (n = 2003, M = 50.67, SD = 17.46). It was significant to validate instruments concerning the fact that Lithuanians’ life satisfaction surveys demonstrated divergent results depending on the assessment tools they used. This study applied the SWLS, created by Diener et al. (1985), and the PCQ-24, created by Luthans et al. (2007). The findings demonstrated the internal consistency of the SWLS instrument, evidencing it as an adequate measure to evaluate satisfaction with life (α = 0.893; TLI = 0.988; NFI = 0.997; RMSEA = 0.059 [0.033–0.088]; CFI = 0.998; SRMR = 0.0077; AVE = 0.764; CR = 0.886). The Lith-PCQ-21 analysis demonstrated the internal consistency of the instrument (α = 0.957) and good fit of the factorial structure (χ2 = 2305.383; DF = 185; TLI = 0.915; NFI = 0.920; RMSEA = 0.077 [0.075–0.080]; CFI = 0.925; SRMR = 0.0450; AVE = 0.814; CR = 0.946), evidencing the instrument as an adequate measure to evaluate psychological capital. This research confirmed that both instruments (SWLS and Lith-PCQ-21) not only have an acceptable validity, including construct validity, but they are also interrelated (χ2 = 3088.762; DF = 294; TLI = 0.913; NFI = 0.914; RMSEA = 0.070 [0.068–0.073]; CFI = 0.922; SRMR = 0.0469), and can be considered appropriate for monitoring life satisfaction and psychological capital of the Lithuanian population.

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