Adaptation and Initial Validation of the German Version of the Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (German SLSS)

Abstract

The present research describes the adaptation and initial validation of a brief measure of global life satisfaction, the Students’ Life Satisfactions Scale (SLSS), for German-speaking children and adolescents aged 10–17 years. Study 1 investigated the responses of 286 Swiss students (aged 12–17 years) administering paper-pencil questionnaires (e.g., Junior Eysenck Personality Questionnaire) during class on two occasions (interval 4 months). Study 2 investigated the responses of a heterogeneous sample composed of 3,407 Austrian, German, and Swiss students (aged 10–17 years), administering questionnaires online (e.g., Brief Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale). The German SLSS showed unidimensionality, explaining approximately 60% of variance, an internal consistency coefficient of α = .88, and a stability coefficient of .55 over a 4-month interval. Study 1 found a moderate association between life satisfaction and social desirability (.20), and theoretically meaningful correlations with temperamental variables (–.16 with Psychoticism, .29 with Extraversion, –.48 with Neuroticism). Study 2 found no gender differences, but small age effects. Differences among Austrian, German, and Swiss students were also identified. Study 2 found correlations between German SLSS and domain-specific satisfaction (e.g., satisfaction with the self). The two studies support the usefulness of the German SLSS and provide preliminary norms for comparison purposes for subsequent research.