Citation: Diener, E. D., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of personality assessment, 49(1), 71-75.
PMID or DOI: PMID: 16367493
Main positive psychological well-being construct measured: Life satisfaction
Sub-constructs measured: N/A
Available subscales: N/A
Description: The Satisfaction With Life Scale is a multi-item scale that was developed to assess general life satisfaction, or satisfaction with life as a whole.
Number of items: 5
Example statement/item: “In most ways, my life is close to my ideal”
Response options: 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 to 7, 1 indicating “strong disagreement” and 7 indicating “strong agreement”.
Total score: Items are summed, yielding a range from 5 to 35. Higher scores indicate greater levels of life satisfaction.
Examples of studies:
1. Ailshire, J.A. and E.M. Crimmins, Psychosocial factors associated with longevity in the United States: Age differences between the old and oldest-old in the Health and Retirement Study. J Aging Res, 2011. 2011: p. 530534.
2. Smyth, N., et al., Post awakening salivary cortisol secretion and trait well-being: The importance of sample timing accuracy. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2015. 58: p. 141-51.