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The Satisfaction with Life Scale in Adolescent Samples: Measurement Invariance across 24 Countries and Regions, Age, and Gender

Author

Listed:
  • Veljko Jovanović

    (University of Novi Sad)

  • Maksim Rudnev

    (HSE University)

  • Gökmen Arslan

    (Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University)

  • Carmen Buzea

    (Transilvania University of Brasov)

  • Radosveta Dimitrova

    (Stockholm University)

  • Vanesa Góngora

    (National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)
    University of Palermo)

  • Tharina Guse

    (University of Pretoria)

  • Rainbow T. H. Ho

    (The University of Hong Kong
    The University of Hong Kong)

  • Naved Iqbal

    (Department of Psychology)

  • Szilvia Jámbori

    (University of Szeged)

  • Fang-Hua Jhang

    (Minjiang University)

  • Goda Kaniušonytė

    (Mykolas Romeris University)

  • Jingguang Li

    (Dali University)

  • Young-Jin Lim

    (Daegu University)

  • Ernesto Lodi

    (University of Sassari)

  • Rasmus Mannerström

    (University of Helsinki)

  • Jenny Marcionetti

    (University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland)

  • Felix Neto

    (University of Porto)

  • Evgeny Osin

    (HSE University
    Université Paris Nanterre)

  • Joonha Park

    (NUCB Business School)

  • Eduardo Fonseca-Pedrero

    (University of La Rioja)

  • Jarosław Piotrowski

    (Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw)

  • Carmel Proctor

    (Positive Psychology Research Centre)

  • Amalia Rahmandani

    (Universitas Diponegoro)

  • Katariina Salmela-Aro

    (University of Helsinki)

  • Javier Ortuño-Sierra

    (University of La Rioja)

  • Delia Stefenel

    (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu)

  • Kazumi Sugimura

    (Hiroshima University)

  • Soon Aun Tan

    (Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman)

  • Song Wang

    (West China Hospital of Sichuan University)

  • Paul S. F. Yip

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Magdalena Żemojtel-Piotrowska

    (Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw)

  • Rita Žukauskienė

    (Mykolas Romeris University)

Abstract

Measurement of adolescent life satisfaction across cultures has not received much attention in previous empirical research. The present study evaluated measurement invariance of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) among adolescents in 24 countries and regions (N = 22,710; age range = 13–19 years; 53% female). A single-factor model with residual covariance between a pair of items tapping past life satisfaction fitted well in 19 countries and regions and showed a partial metric invariance. In a subset of nine countries and regions, partial scalar invariance was supported. Partial metric invariance across all 24 countries and regions was achieved when custom model modifications in five countries and regions were included. Three SWLS items showed evidence of noninvariance across cultures. The measurement model was found to operate similarly across gender and age. Our findings suggest that caution is needed when using the SWLS for measuring life satisfaction among adolescents from different cultures.

Suggested Citation

  • Veljko Jovanović & Maksim Rudnev & Gökmen Arslan & Carmen Buzea & Radosveta Dimitrova & Vanesa Góngora & Tharina Guse & Rainbow T. H. Ho & Naved Iqbal & Szilvia Jámbori & Fang-Hua Jhang & Goda Kaniušo, 2022. "The Satisfaction with Life Scale in Adolescent Samples: Measurement Invariance across 24 Countries and Regions, Age, and Gender," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(4), pages 2139-2161, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:17:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1007_s11482-021-10024-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s11482-021-10024-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Valdiney Gouveia & Taciano Milfont & Patrícia Fonseca & Jorge Coelho, 2009. "Life Satisfaction in Brazil: Testing the Psychometric Properties of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) in Five Brazilian Samples," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 90(2), pages 267-277, January.
    2. Kari Tucker & Daniel Ozer & Sonja Lyubomirsky & Julia Boehm, 2006. "Testing for Measurement Invariance in the Satisfaction with Life Scale: A Comparison of Russians and North Americans," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 78(2), pages 341-360, September.
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    5. Ana Silva & Maria Taveira & Cátia Marques & Valdiney Gouveia, 2015. "Satisfaction with Life Scale Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Portugal: Extending Evidence of Construct Validity," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 120(1), pages 309-318, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Willem A. Arrindell & Irene Checa & Begoña Espejo & I-Hua Chen & Danilo Carrozzino & Phuong Vu-Bich & Huong Dambach & Paula Vagos, 2022. "Measurement Invariance and Construct Validity of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) in Community Volunteers in Vietnam," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Jan Hofer & Ellen Kerpen & Holger Busch & Meike Lehmann & Anitha Menon, 2022. "The Implicit Affiliation Motive, Evaluations of Social Life Events, and Life Satisfaction: Findings from a Cross-Cultural Study with German and Zambian Adolescents," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(8), pages 4073-4089, December.

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