Skip to main content
Search
Search
    Quick Search anywhere
    Quick search in Citations
Advanced Search
Skip main navigationClose Drawer MenuOpen Drawer Menu
Previous article
Next article
Multistudy Report

Measurement Invariance of the Serbian Version of the Satisfaction With Life Scale Across Age, Gender, and Time

Published Online:June 28, 2017https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000410

Abstract

Abstract. The present research aimed at examining measurement invariance of the Serbian version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) across age, gender, and time. A total sample in Study 1 consisted of 2,595 participants from Serbia, with a mean age of 23.79 years (age range: 14–55 years). The final sample in Study 2 included 333 Serbian undergraduate students (Mage = 20.81; age range: 20–27 years), who completed the SWLS over periods of 6 and 18 months after the initial assessment. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported the modified unidimensional model of the SWLS, with correlated residuals of items 4 and 5 tapping past satisfaction. The results of the multigroup confirmatory factor analysis supported the full scalar invariance across gender and over time and partial scalar invariance across age. Latent mean comparisons revealed that women reported higher life satisfaction than men. Additionally, adolescents reported higher life satisfaction than students and adults, with adults showing the lowest life satisfaction. Our findings indicate that the SWLS allows meaningful comparisons in life satisfaction across age, gender, and over time.

References

  • Abdallah, T. (1998). The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS): Psychometric properties in an Arabic-speaking sample. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 7, 113–119. doi: 10.1080/02673843.1998.9747816 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Arrindell, W., Heesink, J. & Feij, J. (1999). The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS): Appraisal with 1700 healthy young adults in The Netherlands. Personality and Individual Differences, 26, 815–826. doi: 10.1016/S0191-8869(98)00180-9 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Atienza, F. L., Balaguer, I. & García-Merita, M. L. (2003). Satisfaction with Life Scale: Analysis of factorial invariance across sexes. Personality and individual Differences, 35, 1255–1260. doi: 10.1016/S0191-8869(02)00332-X First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Bai, X., Wu, C., Zheng, R. & Ren, X. (2011). The psychometric evaluation of the Satisfaction with Life Scale using a nationally representative sample of China. Journal of Happiness Studies, 12, 183–197. doi: 10.1007/s10902-010-9186-x First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Bentler, P. M. (2006). EQS 6 Structural Equations Program Manual. Encino, CA: Multivariate Software. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Brown, T. A. (2015). Confirmatory factor analysis for applied research (2nd ed). New York, NY: Guilford Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Byrne, B. M. (2008). Testing for multigroup equivalence of a measuring instrument: A walk through the process. Psichothema, 20, 872–882. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Chen, F. F. (2007). Sensitivity of goodness of fit indexes to lack of measurement invariance. Structural Equation Modeling, 14, 464–504. doi: 10.1080/10705510701301834 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Chinni, M. & Hubley, A. M. (2014). A research synthesis of validation practices used to evaluate the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). In B. D. ZumboE. K. H. ChanEds., Validity and validation in social, behavioral, and health sciences (pp. 35–67). New York, NY: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-07794-9 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Clench-Aas, J., Nes, R. B., Dalgard, O. S. & Aarø, L. E. (2011). Dimensionality and measurement invariance in the satisfaction with life scale in Norway. Quality of Life Research, 20, 1307–1317. doi: 10.1007/s11136-011-9859-x First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Davidov, E., Datler, G., Schmidt, P. & Schwartz, S. H. (2011). Testing the invariance of values in the Benelux countries with the European Social Survey: Accounting for ordinality. In E. DavidovP. SchmidtJ. BillietEds., Cross-cultural analysis: Methods and applications (pp. 149–171). New York, NY: Routledge. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Davidov, E., Dülmer, H., Schlüter, E., Schmidt, P. & Meuleman, B. (2012). Using a multilevel structural equation modeling approach to explain cross-cultural measurement noninvariance. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 43, 558–575. doi: 10.1177/0022022112438397 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Davidov, E., Meuleman, B., Ciecuch, J., Schmidt, P. & Billiet, J. (2014). Measurement equivalence in cross-national research. Annual Review of Sociology, 40, 55–75. doi: 10.1146/annurev-soc-071913-043137 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Diener, E., Emmons, R., Larsen, R. & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction with Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71–75. doi: 10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Diener, E., Lucas, R., Schimmack, U. & Helliwell, J. (2009). Well-being for public policy. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Diener, E. & Ryan, K. (2009). Subjective well-being: A general overview. South African Journal of Psychology, 39, 391–406. doi: 10.1177/008124630903900402 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Diener, E., Suh, E. M., Lucas, R. E. & Smith, H. E. (1999). Subjective well-being: Three decades of progress. Psychological Bulletin, 125, 276–302. doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.125.2.276 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Glaesmer, H., Grande, G., Braehler, E. & Roth, M. (2011). The German version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS): Psychometric properties, validity, and population based norms. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 27, 127–132. doi: 10.1027/1015-5759/a000058 First citation in articleLink, Google Scholar

  • Graham, C. & Chattopadhyay, S. (2013). Gender and well-being around the world. International Journal of Happiness and Development, 1, 212–232. doi: 10.1504/IJHD.2013.055648 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Hu, L. & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6, 1–55. doi: 10.1080/10705519909540118 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Hultell, D. & Gustavsson, J. (2008). A psychometric evaluation of the Satisfaction with Life Scale in a Swedish nationwide sample of university students. Personality and Individual Differences, 44, 1070–1079. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2007.10.030 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Jovanović, V. (2016). The validity of the Satisfaction with Life Scale in adolescents and a comparison with single-item life satisfaction measures: A preliminary study. Quality of Life Research, 25, 3173–3180. doi: 10.1007/s11136-016-1331-5 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Kenny, D. A., Kaniskan, B. & McCoach, D. B. (2015). The performance of RMSEA in models with small degrees of freedom. Sociological Methods & Research, 44, 486–507. doi: 10.1177/0049124114543236 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Kline, R. B. (2005). Principles and practices of structural equation modeling (2nd ed). New York, NY: Guilford Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Kovačević, J. & Šehić, Dž. (2015). The pursuit of a remedy for gender inequality in wider Europe: Comparison of policies and indices in the EU, Nordic countries, and south east Europe. Economic Annals, 60, 127–156. doi: 10.2298/EKA1504127K First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Lalive, R. & Stutzer, A. (2010). Approval of equal rights and gender differences in well-being. Journal of Population Economics, 23, 933–962. doi: 10.1007/s00148-009-0257-4 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Lee, K. K., Brekke, J. S., Yamada, A.-M. & Chou, C.-P. (2010). Longitudinal invariance of the Satisfaction with Life Scale for individuals with schizophrenia. Research on Social Work Practice, 20, 234–241. doi: 10.1177/1049731509347860 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Legatum Institute (2014, May 5). The 2014 Legatum Prosperity Index. Retrieved from http://media.prosperity.com/2014/pdf/publications/PI2014Brochure_WEB.pdf First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • López Ulloa, B. F., Møller, V. & Sousa-Poza, A. (2013). How does subjective well-being evolve with age? A literature review. Journal of Population Ageing, 6, 227–246. doi: 10.1007/s12062-013-9085-0 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Milfont, T. L. & Fischer, R. (2010). Testing measurement invariance across groups: Applications in cross-cultural research. International Journal of Psychological Research, 3, 112–131. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Moksnes, U. K., Løhre, A., Byrne, D. G. & Haugan, G. (2014). Satisfaction with life in adolescents: Evaluation of the factor structure in a Norwegian sample. Social Indicators Research, 118, 657–671. doi: 10.1007/s11205-013-0451-3 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Oishi, S. (2006). The concept of life satisfaction across cultures: An IRT analysis. Journal of Research in Personality, 41, 411–423. doi: 10.1016/j.jrp.2005.02.002 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Pavot, W. & Diener, E. (2008). The Satisfaction with Life Scale and the emerging construct of life satisfaction. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 3, 137–152. doi: 10.1080/17439760701756946 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Sachs, J. (2004). Validation of the Satisfaction with Life Scale in a sample of Hong Kong University students. Psychologia, 46, 225–234. doi: 10.2117/psysoc.2003.225 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Schimmack, U., Diener, E. & Oishi, S. (2002). Life-satisfaction is a momentary judgment and a stable personality characteristic: The use of chronically accessible and stable sources. Journal of Personality, 70, 345–384. doi: 10.1111/1467-6494.05008 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Shevlin, M., Brunsden, V. & Miles, J. (1998). Satisfaction with Life Scale: Analysis of factorial invariance, mean structures and reliability. Personality and Individual Differences, 25, 911–916. doi: 10.1016/S0191-8869(98)00088-9 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Siedlecki, K., Tucker-Drob, E., Oishi, S. & Salthouse, T. (2008). Life satisfaction across adulthood: Different determinants at different ages? The Journal of Positive Psychology, 3, 153–164. doi: 10.1080/17439760701834602 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Steger, M. F. & Kashdan, T. B. (2007). Stability and specificity of meaning in life and life satisfaction over one year. Journal of Happiness Studies, 6, 161–179. doi: 10.1007/s10902-006-9011-8 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Steinmetz, H., Schmidt, P., Tina-Booh, A., Wieczorek, S. & Schwartz, S. H. (2009). Testing measurement invariance using multigroup CFA: Differences between educational groups in human values measurement. Quality and Quantity, 43, 599–616. doi: 10.1007/s11135-007-9143-x First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Steptoe, A., Deaton, A. & Stone, A. A. (2015). Subjective wellbeing, health, and ageing. Lancet, 385, 640–648. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61489-0 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Swami, V. & Chamorro-Premuzic, T. (2009). Psychometric evaluation of the Malay Satisfaction with Life Scale. Social Indicators Research, 92, 25–33. doi: 10.1007/s11205-008-9295-7 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Tesch-Römer, C., Motel-Klingebiel, A. & Tomasik, M. J. (2008). Gender differences in subjective wellbeing: Comparing societies with respect to gender equality. Social Indicators Research, 85, 329–349. doi: 10.1007/s11205-007-9133-3 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Tomás, J. M., Gutiérrez, M., Sancho, P. & Romero, I. (2015). Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) by gender and age in Angola. Personality and Individual Differences, 85, 182–186. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2015.05.008 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Vandenberg, R. J. & Lance, C. E. (2000). A review and synthesis of the measurement invariance literature: Suggestions, practices and recommendations for organizational research. Organizational Research Methods, 3, 4–70. doi: 10.1177/109442810031002 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Van de Schoot, R., Lugtig, P. & Hox, J. (2012). A checklist for testing measurement invariance. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 9, 37–41. doi: 10.1080/17405629.2012.686740 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Vasić, A., Šarčević, D. & Trogrlić, A. (2011). Zadovoljstvo životom u Srbiji.[Satisfaction with life in Serbia]. Primenjena Psihologija, 2, 151–177. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Vázquez, C., Duque, A. & Hervás, G. (2013). Satisfaction with Life Scale in a representative sample of Spanish adults: Validation and normative data. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 16, E82. doi: 10.1017/sjp.2013.82 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Vieira-Lima, S. (2011). A cross-country investigation of the determinants of the happiness gender gap. Mimeo Department of Economics, University of Milan-Bicocca: Milan, Italy. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Whisman, M. A. & Judd, C. M. (2016). A cross-national analysis of measurement invariance of the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Psychological Assessment, 28, 239–244. doi: 10.1037/pas0000181 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Wu, C. H., Chen, L. & Tsai, Y. (2009). Longitudinal invariance analysis of the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 46, 396–401. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2008.11.002 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Wu, C. H. & Yao, G. (2006). Analysis of factorial invariance across gender in the Taiwan version of the satisfaction with life scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 40, 1259–1268. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2005.11.012 First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar