Abstract
The satisfaction with life scale (SWLS) is a widely accepted and widely used tool for measuring well-being. Although its potential as a cross-cultural index is recognized, an introduction and systematic validation of the Hebrew version is needed. Thus, the purpose of this study is: (1) to describe the process of developing the Hebrew version of the SWLS, and (2) to examine its construct validity as well as its internal consistency. Four hundred and eighty seven working adults completed the following self reported Hebrew language versions of the: (1) SWLS, (2) positive affect and negative affect scales (PANAS), and (3) the self-rated health (SRH) scale. In addition, as way of gathering additional evidence of validity, the SWLS was completed by proxy (i.e., each participant’s life partner or significant other). Confirmatory factor analysis supported a single-factor structure with significant correlations between the SWLS and the rest of the measures—PANAS scores, the SRH scores as well as the SWLS scores as measured by proxy. In addition, item-analysis supports the internal consistency of the scale. The Hebrew version of the SWLS is a valid and reliable scale and can be utilized in the Israeli context.
Highlights
The notion of subjective well-being (SWB) has received a great deal of attention across cultures with the emergence of the positive psychology movement (Diener et al 1999)
The satisfaction with life scale (SWLS) is a well-established tool for measuring the cognitive component of SWB which enables individuals to judge their life satisfaction based on their own criteria
The items in the scale are global and allow individuals to weigh domains of their life based on their own values rather than a list of domains imposed by a researcher
Summary
The notion of subjective well-being (SWB) has received a great deal of attention across cultures with the emergence of the positive psychology movement (Diener et al 1999). The items in the scale are global (e.g., in most ways my life is close to my ideal) and allow individuals to weigh domains of their life based on their own values rather than a list of domains imposed by a researcher. Thereby, it reflects the idiosyncracies of life for each individual and captures one’s well-being more accurately (Diener 1994). Focusing on the scale validity of the SWLS, several studies using factor analysis have demonstrated a unidimensional structure for the SWLS among different cultures and various populations e.g., medical outpatients in the Netherlands (Arrindell et al 1991), people with schizophrenia in Taiwan (Wu and Wu 2008). Our hypotheses are as follows: The SWLS (1) has a one dimensional structure; (2) is associated with measures of affect and health; and (3) has sufficient internal consistency
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