Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The extended satisfaction with life scale: Development and psychometric properties

  • Published:
Social Indicators Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The development and psychometric properties of the Extended Satisfaction With Life Scale (ESWLS) are described in detail. The ESWLS is a 50-item self-report scale that measures satisfaction with life in nine domains. It can be completed by most people in under 20 minutes and can be used by researchers and clinicians. The readability of the ESWLS was estimated to be between the seventh and tenth grade levels. Internal consistency, estimated by coefficient α, ranged from 0.81 to 0.96 for the individual subscales. Two-week test-retest reliability coefficients ranged from 0.74 to 0.87. Results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses strongly supported the factor structure of the ESWLS. Preliminary evidence of convergent and discriminant validity is provided as well as preliminary norms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alfonso, V. C.: 1995, ‘Measures of quality of life, subjective well-being, and satisfaction with life’, in David B. Allison (ed.), Handbook of Assessment Methods for Eating Behaviors and Weight-related Problems: Measures, Theory, and Research (Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA), pp. 23–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alfonso, V. C., Allison, D. B., and Dunn, G. M.: 1992, ‘The relationship between sexual fantasy and satisfaction: A multidimensional analysis of gender differences’, Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality 5, pp. 19–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allison, D. B., Gorman, B. S., and Primavera, L. H.: 1993, ‘The most commonly asked questions by statistical consultees: Our favourite responses and recommended readings’, Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs 119, pp. 153–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allison, D. B., Alfonso, V. C., and Dunn, G. M.: 1991, ‘The extended satisfaction with life scale’, the Behavior Therapist 14, pp. 15–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, J. C. and Gerbing, D. W.: 1988, ‘Structural equation modeling in practice: A review and recommended two-step approach’, Psychological Bulletin 103, pp. 411–423.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrews, F. M., and Robinson, J. P.: 1991, ‘Measures of subjective well-being’, in J. P. Robinson, P. R. Shaver, and L. W. Wrightsman (eds.), Measures of Personality and Social Psychological Attitudes (Academic Press, New York), pp. 61–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrews, F. M., and Withey, S. B.: 1976, Social Indicators of Well-being: Americans' Perceptions of Life Quality, (Plenum Press, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Barad, S. J., and Hughes, H. M.: 1984, ‘Readability of the personality inventory for children’, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 52, pp. 906–907.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beard, J. G., and Ragheb, M. G.: 1980, ‘Measuring leisure satisfaction’, Journal of Leisure Research 12, pp. 20–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berndt, D. J., Schwartz, S., and Kaiser, C. F.: 1983, ‘Readability of self-report depression inventories’, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 51, pp. 627–628.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruce, B., and Rubin, A.: 1988, ‘Readability formulas: Matching tool and task’, in A. Davison and G. M. Green (eds.), Linguistic Complexity and Text Comprehension: Readability Issues Reconsidered (Lawrence Erlbaum, New Jersey), pp. 5–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, A., Converse, P. E., and Rogers, W. L.: 1976, The Quality of American Life (Russell Sage, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Couch, A., and Keniston, K.: 1960, ‘Yeasayers and naysayers: Agreeing response set as a personality variable’, Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology 60, pp. 151–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, J. K. Sr., and Hoffman, L. E.: 1986, ‘Sexual fantasies and sexual satisfaction: An empirical analysis of erotic thought’, The Journal of Sex Research 22, pp. 184–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E.: 1984, ‘Subjective well-being’, Psychological Bulletin 95, pp. 542–575.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E.: 1994, ‘Assessing subjective well-being: Progress and opportunities’, Social Indicators Research 31, pp. 103–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., and Diener, C.: 1996, ‘Most people are happy’, Psychological Science 7, pp. 181–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., and Griffin, S.: 1985, ‘The satisfaction with life scale’, Journal of Personality Assessment 49, pp. 71–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Sandvik, E., Pavot, W., and Gallagher, D.: 1991, ‘Response artifacts in the measurement of subjective well-being’, Social Indicators Research 24, pp. 35–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flesch, R.: 1977, ‘A new readability yardstick’, Journal of Applied Psychology 32, pp. 221–233.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franzoi, S. L., and Shields, S. A.: 1984, ‘The Body-Esteem Scale: Multidimensional structure and sex differences in a college population’, Journal of Personality Assessment 48, pp. 173–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frisch, M. B.: 1993, ‘The Quality of Life Inventory: A cognitive-behavioral tool for complete problem assessment, treatment planning, and outcome evaluation, the Behavior Therapist 16, pp. 42–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frisch, M. B., Cronell, J., Villanueva, M., and Retzlaff, P. J.: 1992, ‘Clinical validation of the Quality of Life Inventory: A measure of life satisfaction for use in treatment planning and outcome assessment’, Psychological Assessment 4, pp. 92–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fry, E.: 1977, ‘Fry's Readability Graph: Clarifications, validity, and extension to level 17’, Journal of Reading 21, pp. 242–252.

    Google Scholar 

  • George, L. K.: 1981, ‘Subjective well-being: Conceptual and methodological issues’, Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics 2, pp. 345–382.

    Google Scholar 

  • George, L. K., and Bearon, L. B.: 1980, ‘Quality of Life in Older Persons: Meaning and Measurement (Human Science Press, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham, J. W., Hofer, S. M., and Piccinin, A. M.: 1994, ‘Analysis with missing data in drug prevention research’, in L. M. Collins and L. A. Seitz (eds.), Advances in Data Analysis for Prevention Intervention Research. National Institute on Drug Abuse Research Monograph 142 (National Institute on Drug Abuse, Rockville MD).

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham, J. W., Hofer, S. M., Donaldson, S. I., MacKinnon, D. P., and Schafer, J. L. (in press). ‘Analysis with missing data in prevention research’, in K. Bryant, M. Windle, and S. West (eds.), New Methodological Approaches to Alcohol Prevention Research (American Psychological Association, Washington, DC).

  • Gray, W. B.Jr.: 1975, How to Measure Readability (Dorrance and Company, Philadelphia).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunning, J.: 1964, How to Take the Fog Out of Writing (Dartnell, Chicago).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gurin, G., Veroff, J., and Feld, S.: 1960, Americans View Their Mental Health (Basic Books, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Headey, B., and Wearing, A.: 1989, ‘Personality, life events, and subjective well-being: Toward a dynamic equilibrium model’. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 57, pp. 731–739.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hertel, R. B.: 1976, ‘Minimizing error variance introduced by missing data routines in survey analysis’, Sociological Methods and Research 4, pp. 459–474.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoppock, R.: 1935, Job Satisfaction (Harper, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudson, W. W., Harrison, D. F. and Crosscup, P. C.: 1981, ‘A short-form scale to measure discord in dyadic relationships’, The Journal of Sex Research 17, pp. 157–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, D. N.: 1970, ‘A sequential system for personality scale development’ in C. D. Spielberger (ed.), Current Topics in Clinical and Community Psychology: Vol. 2 (Academic Press, New York), pp. 61–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jöreskog, K., and Sörbom, D.: 1993, LISREL 8: Structural Equation Modeling with the SIMPLIS Command Language (Scientific Software International, Chicago, IL).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kral, J. G., Sjostrom, L. V., and Sullivan, M. B. E.: 1992, ‘Assessment of quality of life before and after surgery for severe obesity’, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 55, pp. 611S-614S.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsen, R. J., Diener, E., and Emmons, R. A.: 1985, ‘An evaluation of subjective well-being measures’, Social Indicators Research 17, pp. 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larson, R.: 1978, ‘Thirty years of research on the subjective well-being of older Americans’, Journal of Gerontology 33, pp. 109–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawton, M. P.: 1983, ‘The varieties of well-being’, Experimental Aging Research 9, pp. 65–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Little, R. J. A., and Rubin, D. B.: 1987, Statistical Analysis With Missing Data (John Wiley & Sons, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Locke, H. J., and Wallace, K. M.: 1959, ‘Short marital-adjustment and prediction tests: Their reliability and validity’, Marriage and Family Living 21, pp. 251–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marcantonio, R. J.: 1995, ESTIMATE: Statistical Software Designed to Estimate the Impact of Missing Data [Computer program] (SciTech International, Inc., Chicago, IL).

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsh, H. W.: 1991, Self-Description Questionnaire (SDQ) III: A theoretical and empirical basis for the measurement of multiple dimensions of late adolescent self-concept: An interim test manual and a research monograph. (Macarthur, University of Western Sydney).

  • McLaughlin, G. H.: 1969, ‘SMOG Grading—a new readability formula’, Journal of Reading 12, pp. 639–646.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers, D. G., and Diener, E.: 1995, ‘Who is happy?’ Psychological Science 6, pp. 10–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nunnally, J. C., and Bernstein, I. H.: 1994, Psychometric Theory (McGraw Hill, New York), pp. 90–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okun, M. A., Kardash, C. A., Stock, W. A., Sandler, I. N., and Baumann, D. J.: 1986, ‘Measuring perceptions of the quality of academic life among college students’. Journal of College Student Personnel 27, pp. 447–451.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okun, M. A., and Stock, W. A.: 1987, ‘The construct validity of subjective well-being measures: An assessment via quantitative research syntheses’, Journal of Community Psychology 15, pp. 481–492.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson, D. H., Portner, J., and Lavee, Y.: 1985, FACES III (Family Social Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN).

    Google Scholar 

  • Paulhus, D. L.: 1991, ‘Measurement and control of response bias’, in J. P. Robinson, P. R. Shaver, and L. W. Wrightsman (eds.), Measures of Personality and Social Psychological Attitudes (Academic Press, New York), pp. 17–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavot, W., and Diener, E.: 1993, ‘Review of the Satisfaction With Life Scale’, Psychological Assessment 5, pp. 164–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavot, W., Diener, E., Colvin, C. R., and Sandvik, E.: 1991, ‘Further validation of the Satisfaction With Life Scale: Evidence for the cross-method convergence of well-being measures’, Journal of Personality Assessment 57, pp. 149–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, M.: 1965, Society and the Adolescent Self-Image (Princeton University Press, Princeton).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, M.: 1979, Conceiving the Self (Basic Books, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandler, I. N.: 1981, August, On Buffers and Booster: Social Support for Negative and Positive Life Events, Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, L.A.

  • Sarason, I. G., Levine, H. M., Basham, R. B., and Sarason, B. R.: 1983, ‘Assessing social support: The social support questionnaire’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 44, pp. 127–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schumm, W. R., McCollum, E. E., Bugaighis, M. A., Jurich, A. P., and Bollman, S. R.: 1986, ‘Characteristics of the Kansas Family Life Satisfaction Scale in a regional sample’, Psychological Reports 58, pp. 975–980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schumm, W. R., Nichols, C. W., Shectman, K. L., and Grigsby, C. C.: 1983, ‘Characteristics of responses to the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale by a sample of 84 married mothers’, Psychological Reports 53, pp. 567–572.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwarz, N., and Strack, F.: 1991, ‘Evaluating one's life: A judgment model of subjective well-being’, in F. Strack, M. Argyle, and N. Schwarz (eds.), Subjective Well-being: An Interdisciplinary Perspective (Pergamon Press, Oxford, UK), pp. 27–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Secord, P. F., and Jourard, S. M.: 1953, ‘The appraisal of body-cathexis: Body-cathexis and the self’, Journal of Consulting Psychology 17, pp. 343–347.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, P. C., Kendall, L. M., and Hulin, C. L.: 1969. The Measurement of Satisfaction in Work and Retirement (Rand McNally, Chicago).

    Google Scholar 

  • Spanier, G. B.: 1976, ‘Measuring dyadic adjustment: New scales for assessing the quality of marriage and similar dyads’, Journal of Marital and Family Therapy 38, pp. 15–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Starr, A. M., Betz, E. L., and Menne, J. W.: 1983, Manual: College Student Satisfaction Questionnaire (rev. ed.) (Central Iowa Associates, Ames, IA).

    Google Scholar 

  • Stock, W. A., Okun, M. A., and Benin, M.: 1986, ‘Structure of subjective well-being among the elderly’, Psychology and Aging 1, pp. 91–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strack, F., Argyle, M., and Schwarz, N.: 1991, Subjective Well-being: An Interdisciplinary Perspective (Pergamon Press, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Stunkard, A. J., and Wadden, T. A.: 1992, ‘Psychological aspects of severe obesity’, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 55, pp. 524S-532S.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S. E., and Brown, J. D.: 1988, ‘Illusion and well-being: A social psychological perspective on mental health’, Psychological Bulletin 103, pp. 193–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S. E., and Brown, J. D.: 1994, ‘Positive illusions and well-being revisited: Separating fact from fiction’, Psychological Bulletin 116, pp. 21–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tekfi, C.: 1987, ‘Readability formulas: An overview’, Journal of Documentation 43, pp. 257–269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, J. K.: 1995, ‘Assessment of body image’, in David B. Allison (ed.), Handbook of Assessment Methods for Eating Behaviors and Weight-related Problems: Measures, Theory, and Research (Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA), pp. 119–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tracey, T. J., and Dundon, M.: 1988, ‘Role anticipations and preferences over the course of counseling’, Journal of Counseling Psychology 35, pp. 3–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Veenhoven, R.: 1984, Conditions of Happiness (Kluwer-Boston, Hingham, MA).

    Google Scholar 

  • Velicer, W. F., Fava, J. L., Zwick, W. R., and Harrop, J. W.: 1988, Program CAX (Component Analysis Extended) [Computer program].

  • Weiss, D. J., Dawis, R. V., England, G. W., and Lofquist, L. H.: 1967, Manual for the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire. Minnesota Studies in Vocational Rehabilitation, University of Minnesota.

  • Wylie, C.: 1989, Measures of Self-Concept (University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zwick, W. R., and Velicer, W. F.: 1986, ‘Comparison of five rules for determining the number of components to retain’, Psychological Bulletin 99, pp. 432–442.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Education, Fordham University, 113 West 60th Street, 10023, New York, NY, USA

    Vincent C. Alfonso, David B. Allison, Damon E. Rader & Bernard S. Gorman

Authors
  1. Vincent C. Alfonso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. David B. Allison
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Damon E. Rader
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bernard S. Gorman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Alfonso, V.C., Allison, D.B., Rader, D.E. et al. The extended satisfaction with life scale: Development and psychometric properties. Soc Indic Res 38, 275–301 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00292049

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00292049

Keywords

Search

Navigation