The German Version of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS): Psychometric Properties, Validity, and Population-Based Norms
Abstract
The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) is the most commonly used measure for life satisfaction. Although there are numerous studies confirming factorial validity, most studies on dimensionality are based on small samples. A controversial debate continues on the factorial invariance across different subgroups. The present study aimed to test psychometric properties, factorial structure, factorial invariance across age and gender, and to deliver population-based norms for the German general population from a large cross-sectional sample of 2519 subjects. Confirmatory factor analyses supported that the scale is one-factorial, even though indications of inhomogeneity of the scale have been detected. Both findings show invariance across the seven age groups and both genders. As indicators of the convergent validity, a positive correlation with social support and negative correlation with depressiveness was shown. Population-based norms are provided to support the application in the context of individual diagnostics.
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The Satisfaction with Life Scale is a widely used German version 5-item self-rating inventory.
“The widely used German version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS; Glaesmer et al., 2011) is a 5-item self-rating inventory.”
From A clinical effectiveness trial comparing ACT and CBT for inpatients with depressive and mixed mental disorders (2021) · cites this paper as Glaesmer et al., 2011
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References 42 · Cited by 485
- Authors
- Glaesmer, H., Grande, G., Braehler, E., & Roth, M.
- Affiliations
- Leipzig University (DE)
- Leipzig University of Applied Sciences (DE)
- Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Germany
- University of Duisburg-Essen (DE)
- Venue
- European Journal of Psychological Assessment
- Publisher
- Hogrefe Publishing Group
- Published
- 2011-01
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 127-132
- ISSN
- 1015-5759 (ISSN-L)
- 2151-2426
- OpenAlex
- W1917490384
- Cited by
- 485
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 48 · 2024: 42 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 55 · 2021: 47 · 2020: 51 · 2019: 43 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 35 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 14.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Journal of Psychological Assessment (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- Satisfaction with Life Scale, life satisfaction, German version, measurement invariance, factor structure, age differences, gender differences, population norms, social support, depressiveness, convergent validity
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