Psychometric properties of the Satisfaction with Life Scale in Brazilian Para athletes

Abstract

The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) is an instrument that assesses subjective well-being in relation to life that was originally proposed in the English language. To analyze the psychometric properties do the SWLS for use with Para athletes. A convenience sample of 309 Brazilian Paralympic athletes (age: 33.08 ± 9.85 years) of both sexes was chosen. We conducted an online survey, and participants completed an anamnesis and SWLS questionnaires using the Qualtrics® software. To analyze confirmatory, the comparison fit index (CFI), the Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) and the standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) were used. Reliability was estimated by the ordinal alpha and omega coefficients. A multigroup analysis estimates a factor invariance. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis supported a single factor structure for the SWLS, with an acceptable fit. Cronbach’s α (0.88) and McDonald’s Omega (0.88) were indicative of internal consistency. Factorial invariance across gender, impairment, sports, and competition level was confirmed. The Brazilian version of the SWLS for Para athletes showed satisfactory psychometric properties and can be used to measure life satisfaction in the Paralympic context. The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) is an instrument that assesses subjective well-being in relation to life that was originally proposed in the English language. To analyze the psychometric properties do the SWLS for use with Para athletes. A convenience sample of 309 Brazilian Paralympic athletes (age: 33.08 ± 9.85 years) of both sexes was chosen. We conducted an online survey, and participants completed an anamnesis and SWLS questionnaires using the Qualtrics® software. To analyze confirmatory, the comparison fit index (CFI), the Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) and the standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) were used. Reliability was estimated by the ordinal alpha and omega coefficients. A multigroup analysis estimates a factor invariance. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis supported a single factor structure for the SWLS, with an acceptable fit. Cronbach’s α (0.88) and McDonald’s Omega (0.88) were indicative of internal consistency. Factorial invariance across gender, impairment, sports, and competition level was confirmed. The Brazilian version of the SWLS for Para athletes showed satisfactory psychometric properties and can be used to measure life satisfaction in the Paralympic context. O objetivo principal do presente estudo foi avaliar as propriedades psicométricas da Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) para paratletas brasileiros, bem como sua estrutura fatorial, confiabilidade e invariância. 309 paratletas (idade: 33,08 ± 9,85 anos), recrutados por conveniência, de ambos os sexos, foram avaliados, de forma online, por meio de um questionário sociodemográfico e da versão SWLS de Gouveia et al. (2009). Foi utilizada a análise fatorial confirmatória para avaliar a estrutura unidimensional da escala usando o método de extração Robust Diagonally Weighted Least Squares (RDWLS). O modelo unidimensional SWLS apresentou um bom ajuste dos dados (χ2 = 1.906 / df = 5; p = 0.86; CFI = 1.000; SRMR = 0.019; RMSEA = 0.000 [90% IC : 0.000 – 0.042] e consistência interna adequada Ômega do McDonald's (0,88) e boa confiabilidade composta (0,88) . Além disso, a invariância fatorial entre gênero, deficiência, esportes e nível de competição foi confirmada. A versão brasileira da SWLS em atletas paralímpicos apresentou propriedades psicométricas satisfatórias e pode ser utilizada para mensurar a satisfação com a vida no contexto paralímpico.