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Subjective Well-Being Structure: Confirmatory Factor Analysis in a Teachers’ Portuguese Sample

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Abstract

Authors consider that subjective well-being is a theoretical construct that includes three components: life satisfaction, positive affect and negative affect. Despite the numerous studies already conducted, divergences remain concerning how to conceptualize these components within a global structure of subjective well-being. This study aims to examine the dimensionality of the subjective well-being construct. A set of self-report questionnaires was used to assess life satisfaction, positive and negative affect in 397 teachers of primary and high schools. A model of a tripartite structure was tested using a confirmatory factor analysis. The results corroborate the premise that subjective well-being is a multidimensional construct that incorporates three components: life satisfaction, positive affect and negative affect. Our findings reinforce the viewpoint that these three components are moderately correlated and relatively independent and also strengthen the need for a complete SWB assessment that includes adequate measures of all three components.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Rua do Colégio Novo, Apartado 6153, 3001-802, Coimbra, Portugal

    Isabel Albuquerque, Margarida Pedroso de Lima & Cláudia Figueiredo

  2. Cognitive and Behavioral Research Centre (CINEICC), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Marcela Matos

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  1. Isabel Albuquerque
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  2. Margarida Pedroso de Lima
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  3. Cláudia Figueiredo
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  4. Marcela Matos
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Correspondence to Isabel Albuquerque.

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Albuquerque, I., de Lima, M.P., Figueiredo, C. et al. Subjective Well-Being Structure: Confirmatory Factor Analysis in a Teachers’ Portuguese Sample. Soc Indic Res 105, 569–580 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-011-9789-6

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