Global Life Satisfaction

What it measures

Five seven-point Likert-type items capture a global attitudinal assessment of one's life, with emphasis on the cognitive rather than affective dimension of well-being. Items tap into comparisons with an ideal life, perceived conditions, overall satisfaction, goal attainment, and counterfactual reflection. The scale is known as the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and has been widely used in consumer research as a measure of subjective well-being.

Response format

7-point Likert (1=strongly disagree, 7=strongly agree)

Scale items

• In most ways my life is close to ideal.
• The conditions of my life are excellent.
• I am satisfied with my life.
• So far, I have gotten the important things I want in life.
• If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing.

Full scale items shown. Always cite the original source when using this scale in research.

Usage notes & scoring

Alpha of .91 was reported by Burroughs and Rindfleisch (2002) in a consumer research context. Original development studies demonstrated unidimensionality, good internal consistency, and freedom from socially desirable response tendencies. The scale showed strong positive correlation with well-being and negative correlations with depression, neuroticism, and anxiety.

Citation

Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction with Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71–75.

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